Heirs to the Promise

To Repent part 4 of 4

2012-02-04T17:23:00.000-08:00

Next in repenting of Sin one must confess there sin.

Jas 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, so that you are healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous one accomplishes much.

Confessing our sin is an acknowledgment of that sin. We can not repent of a sin we do not acknowledge!

Lets talk about this idea of confessing our sins for a moment. Does this mean we are to go to a specific person to confess our sin? Or even worse participate in open gossip sessions with our peers, and talk about how horrible we are?

I do not think that either of these are the correct path to take. We are supposed to pray for one another, that goes without question, but is it necessary to know all the dark and sorted details?

I for one do not think so.

So to resolve this issue, lets ask the question. In the Torah where did one go to confess there sins? Well you would go to the presence of God right? So you would go to the tabernacle/Temple. That’s actually where many get the idea of confessing to a certain person or group of people. But just to let all of us know, one did not confess to the priest in the Tabernacle. In fact you laid your hands upon the offering, not the priest. As a mediator the priest was a participant, but you laid your hands on the offering, said “my sins are on this animal”, and offered it to the Lord.

Many misconceptions exist about the sacrifices and the sacrificial system. I would encourage all to really learn about them and what they where for.

For now all we need to understand is that the cleansing of the sacrifice didn’t last. It was only so you could draw near to God. It lasted while you were there, so we weren’t consumed by the all consuming Holy presence of God. It was so we were covered while worshiping God, to keep us from being consumed for our sin.

But the point is, God honored the action, not just the thought.

The word for sacrifice in Hebrew is Korban, and it means to draw near. So our confessions, and our actions are taken to draw near to God.

That is confessing our sins!!!

So how do we confess our sins to one another? Do we say I want to tell another person or group of people exactly what I did so I can be forgiven?

No!!! It says so we can be healed.

If one commits a sin against another specifically, then they need to go to that person, and confess there sin to them. So all can be healed! Recompense can be made, and the spirit can be healed.

To truly repent we must see the need for repentance, understand our sin, admit it, and quit it.

Remember repentance is an action. It is something we do. We need to quit the sin in order to be truly repentant. Asking forgiveness for a sin you plan to commit again, is asking in vain, because it is not repentance.

If we ever have to ask if we are truly repentant all we need to do is look at our actions.

Act 26:20 On the contrary, I announced first in Dammesek, then in Yerushalayim and throughout Y'hudah, and also to the Goyim, that they should turn from their sins to God and then do deeds consistent with that repentance.

There are deeds consistent with repentance?
After the act of turning from our sins to our God, there are in fact actions, or deeds that follow. So if there is no change there was no repentance!

Mat 3:8 If you have really turned from your sins to God, produce fruit that will prove it!

Stop saying you are repenting and actually do it!

We all must understand that 90% of all communication is none verbal. It is based on our actions, not our words. We have to act our words out to show that we mean them. Then when we say the words, others will truly see that we mean them. Our God is not asking us to reveal our intentions, He is demanding to see our deeds!

Repentance is always going to be tied to action!

The result of repentance is fruit, and more fruit!

This is meant to be an encouragement to sinners “which we all are”. We need to see that the more we choose to obey, the more we can do! The level of obedience should always be consistently raised in our lives. One of me personal favorite quotes of all time comes from an author unknown. It goes as follows “ If you have not had a major revelation in your life in the past two years, check your pulse, because you might be dead.”

If you have not raised the level of obedience to your God in recent history check your pulse because you may be in fact dying or dead. Those who have an understanding of an everlasting life may want to really pray about that last quote.

Repentance is going back to where we left the path of God. For many it is in finding the path in the first place. But we need to find that place, or road that we left and get back to it. It is not merely a prayer, it is an action. We are not simply turning away from something, we are turning to something. It isn’t just stopping what we consider to be sin, it is returning to the path God has laid out for us. It is returning to His path in His ways.

What is it we a turning or returning to?

The Ways of God!!! To what he said!!! In the ways He described them!!!

To repent is not a one time thing. It is a lifetime of obedience We should repent every day, because we sin everyday. We must contently make the little turns back to where we know that God wants us to be. Back to where God has declared that we should be in His Word! It is not just a thought, it is not a noun, It is a verb.

It is something we do, and keep on doing. We have to stop asking for repentance in vain, we have to stop saying we repent in vain, and actually do repentance!

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our God

To Repent - part 3 of 4

2012-02-01T12:29:00.000-08:00

To truly repent we must start to do the right things, and stop doing the wrong things.

How do we know what the right and wrong things are?

It is written, we need only to seek it with the mindset of doing it, and to live it out. In many aspects it is really quit simple, until theologians get a hold of it that is!

Repentance is not a justification for sin, it is a turning from sin, and a returning to God.

So what is the actual first step to take for repentance?

It has to be the realization that repentance is needed. You cant ask forgiveness of a sin, or sins you are not sorry for. You can not ask forgiveness for sins that you do not know are sins. The first step must be to understand what sin is, see it in your life, truly feel sorry for it, and want to stop. The first step is a recognition that repentance is needed.

So once we have that understanding, what's next? How is it that we are to repent?

Jer 29:13 When you seek me, you will find me, provided you seek for me wholeheartedly;

We must seek for God whole heartedly.

How are we going to turn to or return to Gods path if we do not know him, or His ways to do so?

We must seek Him.

To search for Him with all of our heart is something that I believe is grossly misunderstood in most theological circles today. To seek Him is not simply to want Him, or even to ask for Him. To seek Him can be summed up in one word.

OBEY!!!

To seek God is to seek His ways, to truly seek His ways, is to obey His Word. We cant go running into the chambers of the King, and say “ I have been looking everywhere for you. Well everywhere you said you wouldn’t be”.

Seeking the King where He said He would not be is not really seeking Him. We must seek Him where we know He is. In His Holy Word! We will not seek Him, and find Him by chance in some unknown dark location.

We must come to our King as a humble servant. We must recognize that it is about Him, and we are His servants. We must realize that we are the problem that needs to be fixed, not Him! We must come as obedient servants striving daily to live a life he wants us to lead. To be the image of God in this world, and represent the perfect picture given to us in our Messiah. Only then can we say that we have sought Him with all of our heart, and through that search have found repentance. You can not have repentance without obedience!

All things start in the heart. So the heart is where we begin our search. Searching the heart leads to action. Seeking God with all of our heart is obedience!

So obedience is the first step to repentance.

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our God

To Repent Part 2 of 4

2012-01-31T16:58:00.005-08:00

To repent, or tshuv is not to change ones mind, but to change ones direction. It literally means to turn. We must change our actions in order to repent. Not just say words, that for so many are empty.

If this offends you please realize I am not writing this to any one person or group of people. It is something we must all take home.

If it does offend please pay even closer attention to this article.

(note see article : The Sword)

It is not simply saying we changed our minds, and continuing on the same path as before. It requires a physical change. If there is no physical change in our lives ,then we did not repent. It is less about the words, and more about the actions.

We must realize that there is a true need for repentance in our lives. Not just from some fear of hellfire and brimstone. We must see that we are in desperate need of a change in our lives. Our lives without our Messiah, and His teachings are leading us to ruin and destruction. Not only in some future world to come, but in this one we are in now.

At the end of my article (The other side of Tzedakah) I wrote about the need for repentance being that our Messiah is still with us, and feels our pain through our suffering. We must take this to heart. We must not seek repentance purely out of selfish reasons, but as a realization of our need to change. Not just our thoughts, words, or actions, and not just one day a week. But our need for true change in our lives, all of our life, everyday.

Please see this and take it to heart. IT IS NOT ABOUT US, IT IS ABOUT HIM. Him being God! We all focus so much on blessings and curses in our lives, and in doing so we forget that they are there for a purpose. They are there to show us the choice, to lead, and show us the very real True God. And in doing so to return to Him and His ways.

To return to our God, and His ways is true repentance. But for most of us its not that simple, because we have lost track of who our God is, and what our God wants. There is a true need for repentance in this world, and we need to get back to an understanding that can, and will lead us to it!

We must understand that repentance is not a one time thing. So many have a misunderstanding of what Salvation is. I hope to address this in future articles. But for know lets talk about it as it pertains to repentance.

So often many take the one time act of raising a hand, walking down an isle, and saying some words to be repentance. Through this misunderstanding of repentance they are now saved from all there sins, so now they can sin without the worry of missing out on Heaven, or going to Hell.

This is not repentance!!!

This is only the first step in understanding the need to return to God. It is not the end, but the beginning. The best analogy for repentance I have ever heard comes form the Bereans online. There analogy goes as follows.

“anyone who has ever driven knows that every straight line is actually a series of small turns.”

You cant drive on a straight path in a car without turning your wheel constantly making minor correction in order to keep yourself out of the ditch. There are always obstacles, potholes, and changes in inclines on the road, trying to knock you off the path.

This in a nutshell is repentance. It is the constant corrections necessary in our lives to keep us on the straight and narrow. We have to remember that repentance is not a one time thing, it is a lifetime of contently turning towards God and His path!

We must realize that our sins do actually separate us from our God. Many agree that we need a closer walk with Yeshua (Jesus), many speak about a closer relationship with God. But few realize that our sins actually keep us apart.

Hab 1:13 Your eyes are too pure to see evil, you cannot countenance oppression. So why do you countenance traitors? Why are you silent when evil people swallow up those more righteous than they?

Can we see why we need a better understanding of Sin and repentance yet?

A call of repentance is in fact a call of returning to God!

We must gain a new found respect for the Word of God, All of it. We must seek a truer understanding of what it is we are to turn back to, and how so we can truly repent. We must learn to tremble at Gods word.

Isa 66:2 Didn't I myself make all these things? This is how they all came to be," says ADONAI. "The kind of person on whom I look with favor is one with a poor and humble spirit, who trembles at my word.

How many of us today truly tremble at Gods Word? How many think of it as having actual applications to our lives? How many see the Word of God, compare it to our lives, and truly tremble at the realizations that we are not even close to keeping the Will of God? To do this, and seek to return to the ways of God is true repentance!

We must ask ourselves, do I tremble at His Word?

We have been given such incredible tools to seek insight into Gods Word in this modern age. The tools our generation has to discover the truth in Gods Word is without comparison in ages past. We no longer have to be from a wealthy family to learn to read Scripture. We no longer have to know Latin to be able to read Scripture. We no longer have to depend on men to tell us what God wants in our lives.

We can know the wisdom of the ages by simply turning on a computer. We can access the Bible in almost any language in the world. We have tools to learn languages that were just a dream to understand for many in the past. In moments we can pull up commentaries, ancient writings, and translations.

Yet we must realize that where much is given, much is expected. We have been given incredible gifts in this regard. We must use these tools to seek Gods understanding, and not mans. We must strive to Tshuv, to repent, to turn back to God. We must seek His ways and not ours, only then can we truly say we have repented.

Repentance is not simply asking for forgiveness of some sin you cant even define. Repentance is a turning, it is admitting the sin, and quitting the sin. Admit it, and quit it! It is a true turning, not just in mind, and heart - but in action!

Do we tremble at Gods word? Not just treat it with the dignity, and respect it represents and deserves. But to actually read Gods Holy Word and understand that we are meant to follow it in our lives. Read it and follow it through!

Is it enough to call people to repentance, or to repent without teaching, or knowing what repentance is? Is it enough to walk an isle, raise a hand, or say a prayer? Is it enough to simply change ones mind, still continue in sin, but with a better outlook on life?

NO IT IS NOT!!!

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our God

To Repent - part 1 of 4

2012-01-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

Many people have asked for forgiveness from there sin. Unfortunately many that ask don’t even know what sin is, let alone how to define it.

(note see article : What is Sin)

But even with this being the case it doesn’t stop the call for repentance from going out. So what is repentance? Is it simply asking for forgiveness from some sin, or sins in your life? How is it attained? What does it mean to repent? These are the types of questions I hope to address in this article. It is my sincerest hope that after reading this we can all walk away with a better and truer understanding of this subject.

Many out there may think they have a good grasp on repentance, and many will be surprised by what we think we know. I just ask that as you read this, do so with an open mind, and heart. With the mindset of seeking the truth of the matter, and not simply what we want to think.

So lets start of with answering the question, what is repentance? As with most things I think it is important to go back to basics when trying to define a word. Because at the end of the day, we are not trying to see what Americans, or Greeks thought of repentance. We want to know how it is defined in Gods Holy Word!

In order to do this we need to go back to the Hebrew to see what the word truly is. In Hebrew the word most commonly translated as repentance is Tsuv! The first thing we need to recognize is that repentance is a verb, it is an action word. It is something we do. It isn’t a state of mind, or a philosophy, it is an action. We have to understand that to repent is a great thing, but if you do not actually repent then you do not have repentance! That might seem confusing to some but stay with me.

One may ask how can you repent without having repented?

The first thing we need to realize is that if we do not know what we are repenting from how can we call it repentance. We have to have a better understanding of sin, what sin is, and how to define it in our lives. Otherwise we cannot truly call what we do repentance, for they are just empty words.

Second we have to realize that repentance is not a one time thing. Please understand that sin is not a one time thing. So how can repentance be a one time thing? We need to understand what repentance truly is, before we can claim it, or better yet actually do it!

The Hebrew word for Tshuv doesn’t actually mean repentance. You see repentance is an English word with an English definition. But as written before, we are not trying to seek the English definition for repentance. We are trying to understand it from the Holy Scriptures, and in the Holy Scriptures the word Tshuv means to turn or return!!!

One may ask, how in the world does the word for repentance simply mean to return. I thought you had to raise a hand, or walk an isle to do it right. What is all this returning stuff? I have heard many sermons, and in fact given many sermons on repentance in my past, and the basis for most of them is to change our minds. Now this leads us to a problem in most theological circles today.

We have focused so much on feelings, concepts and ideas of the mind, that we have virtually done away with action, and in many cases made the act of following Gods Word a sin. We have gotten so confused, and much of this comes from not understanding, or misunderstanding sin, and repentance. Let me pose a couple of questions.

How can one change there mind, if they do not change there actions?

How can one show that he has changed his mind, if there are no actions that follow?

To change one's mind, or say that we have, is not good enough. It is not simply about changing ones mind. What really matters is not what we say, or think, it is what we do. Remember repentance is not a noun it is a verb, it is something we do!

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our God

The other side of Tzedakah

2012-01-23T13:16:00.000-08:00

The other side of Tzedakah

Many people know of the idea of charity in a Greek mindset. The benevolent act of giving to those less fortunate than you, or an act of philanthropy. But in Hebrew the word for charity is translated from the word Tzadik which actually means righteous. This is because the act of giving is seen as the ultimate act of righteousness.

Part of the reason why is, because it is an act of equaling out the scales. The idea goes as follows; if I have, and you have not, I will give some of what I have so we are both equal. No one is better than, or above the other and all needs are met.

Many forget that the act of giving is a command,
“I am not speaking about tithing” !!!

Deu 15:4 “Only, there should be no poor among you. For Hashem does greatly bless you in the land which Hashem your Elohim is giving you to possess as an inheritance,

Deu 15:7 “When there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, within any of the gates in your land which Hasehm your Elohim is giving you, do not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother,

Deu 15:11 “Because the poor one does not cease from the land. Therefore I am commanding you, saying, ‘You shall certainly open your hand to your brother, to your poor and to your needy one, in your land.

To give is an act of righteousness. Many have taught that giving is how we can best be the image of our creator. Think about it, what if the image of God is less about physical appearance and more about our actions. To be His representatives in this world. In truth, tzedakah is not about giving, tzedakah is about being. The book of Genesis tells us that we are made in God’s image.

None of us look alike, so the image of God can’t be just a physical likeness. What, then, is it to be Gods image? What does it mean to be God’s image in the world? Tradition teaches that what is essentially divine about God is that God loves unconditionally and that God gives freely.

We don’t earn God’s gifts, blessings, or salivations. God gives simply for the joy of giving. Many know this to be Grace, and are somewhat surprised to learn that Grace wasn’t invented in the New Testament.

To be God like means to give, and to be free means to be able to choose to give. To be free means to be able to love and to give. We are reflections of that divine image, which means that when we rise up in our freedom and we offer gifts of love, caring, and support then we are truly acting as the image of God.

We are in this material world, so to bring light into the world, and to share it with each other is our mission. A person who doesn’t give isn’t whole. A person who doesn’t reach out is, in some ways, not human. The fullest expression of our humanity is possible only when we reach out to each other and we connect with each other.

But there is another side of Tzedakah as well. It is easy to think of it from the side of giving and receiving needs, goods, or money. But what if we were not speaking of those types of things. What if we are speaking of hardship in general?

From ancient times the good in this world is represented by light, even in Judaism today sending a spark of light through tzedakah and mitzvahs is said to be spreading the light of God to the world.

But if this is the case then there is another side to it as well. All coins have two sides. What if by going through trials and hardships you are keeping others from having to go through them themselves. What if their faith isnt where it needs to be to fully go through it? Would you help and take some or all of there burden?

Taking on the sufferings of others so they do not have to.

(Note: see article, The Purpose of trials)

This is also a form of Tzedakah. It is what our Messiah did for us in taking on our sins and sufferings, in taking the death sentence to give us a chance not to have to redeem the rightly deserved penalty of our sins.

Isa 53:3 despised and rejected by men, a man of pains and knowing sickness. And as one from whom the face is hidden, being despised, and we did not consider Him.
Isa 53:4 Truly, He has borne our sicknesses and carried our pains. Yet we reckoned Him stricken, smitten by Elohim, and afflicted.
Isa 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our crookednesses. The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

And as Disciples of Messiah aren’t we called to emulate him and do the same thing?

1Pe 2:21 For to this you were called, because Messiah also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps,
1Pe 2:22 “who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth,
1Pe 2:23 who, being reviled, did not revile in return; suffering, did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;
1Pe 2:24 who Himself bore our sins in His body on the timber, so that we, having died to sins, might live unto righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.

1Jn 2:6 The one who says he stays in Him ought himself also to walk, even as He walked.

In the past few years my family and I have gone through great trials and periods of loss. And as a man, I have struggled with it greatly at times. It is very easy to lose yourself in the selfishness of self loathing. Thankfully, I serve the one true God, and He is not only great and wonderful, but He is faithful , and never left me, or let me pull myself to deep into the pit of despair.

During one of the nights where I was going through a particular rough period, the Lord spoke to me. He made me see and think of the idea of Tzedakah as I described at the beginning of this article. He made me start to see things in a new light. What if my loss was keeping others from having to go through loss?

You may think it sounds strange, but it is really basic economics. Think of it like this, there is only so much money in an economy, only so much pie available. If my lack of money can help someone, who’s faith may not be as strong as mine, by giving them more pie, why not take less so they can have more? We must also keep in mind for some the riches this life offers will be there only reward, so shouldnt we give it freely?

This helped me a lot, because I could no longer see my lack as a curse but a blessing. The strongest time of repentance, and study for me came through my times of hardship and loss.

Psa 119:67 Before I was afflicted I myself was going astray, But now I have guarded Your word.

Psa 119:71 It was good for me that I was afflicted, That I might learn Your laws.

2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for the sake of Messiah. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I realized this many times before, and knowing this helped me keep my faith strong through those times. But that wasn’t all I needed to see.

Through this new understanding I was led not only to help myself, but to understand our Messiah much better. The fact is if I have to be, or can be afflicted so another doesn’t have to. If I have to, or can experience pain and loss so another doesn’t have to, is fine, it is even great.

But the real pain doesn’t come from my personal loss, it comes from having to see my family have to suffer as well.

We all want the best for our family’s, and being the head of a family that is lacking in many things is hard. To see them have to do without, when so many seem to have so much is the real pain.

This gave me an even greater perspective into our Messiah. Its harder to see those you love suffer than to go through suffering yourself. This is true almost across the board in almost any situation and with almost any person.

Now imagine our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus).

The beatings, torture, humiliation, and suffering to death on the cross, tree, branch, stake or what ever you want to call it, was in fact only temporary. What if that wasn’t the hard part? Think of all I have written so far. What do you think the hardest part was?

As written earlier the hardest part for most is not the suffering of oneself, but seeing those we love suffer. I believe the hardest part was going through all this suffering , so the world didn’t have to, and then watching them still make the same mistakes, and take the wrong path anyway!

We often think of Yeshua on the cross, and many teach it as if that was the end. Sure they speak of a resurrection and the hope we have in it. But often we don’t realize that Yeshua is still with us. Yeshua was resurrected, and Yeshua is still with us today. I believe the real pain for Yeshua is seeing us suffer needlessly and continue to make the same mistakes over and over again. Our sin causes our Messiah real pain. Our lack of repentance causes our God real pain!

Hopefully this will give us all more cause for, and a deeper understanding of the need for, and understanding of repentance!

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our God

Psalm 23 cover

2011-06-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

The story of the boy and his Fathers list

2011-05-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time there was a boy living in ignorance and enslaved to those who were around him. But the boys Father had been watching over his son for some time. And finally one day the boys Father came to save him from all those he was enslaved to.

After redeeming the boy and bringing him back to His house, the Father gave the boy a list of chores. To teach the boy who had lived apart form his Father for so long how to once again live with his Father. He then promised the boy that as long as he did the deeds on the list he would have a happy and long life. But if he ignored the list and went against his Fathers Will he would have a hard life indeed.

The Father did not make the list to easy to follow, in the intention that it would show the boy all that he should be doing and wasn’t. Also, it was to remind him that he couldn’t actually accomplish it on his own. To show the boy that he needed his Fathers help.

The boy immediately took the list and jumped for joy at the idea of not being enslaved, and for being able to move into his fathers house. He agreed immediately to do all the chores on the list. The next day the boy went to work, and for awhile he tried his very best to complete the list. Then it hit him, the list seemed to mock him and show him all that he had failed to do in his life so far. He tried his best but did not finish the chore list. The boys father came to him at the end of the day and told him how very proud he was that he took such initiative. And told the boy that the list was to assure him a good life in his Fathers house. But as a gift given in love, the Father would be giving him a great reward even tho he didn’t earn or finish the list completely.

The next day the boy awoke and grabbed the list his father had given him the previous day, and started to work it again. And altho there were many of the chores that he couldn’t do on the list the boy did as many as he could. When the boys Father realized what his son was doing he stopped the boy and reminded him that the boy had already gained the reward, and to most it would seem that what the boy was doing was not necessary. But the boy replied to his Father that altho he understands that the great reward never depended on him doing the chore list, he still wants to complete as much of the list as he can as often as he can. Because he loves his father so much and appreciates all that he has done for him. The Father replied that he was proud that the boy finally understood the purpose of the list.

The question is would you consider the boy to be a sinful son for continuing to follow his Fathers list?

Jewish Law

2010-12-19T16:29:00.000-08:00

It never fails that when I share the gospel of the Torah, or even mention the word Torah, or law the same question almost always comes up. “What? Do you expect us to go back to the days of stoning one another every time someone steps out of line?” Or some variation, usually having to do with stoning our children. I usually try, with no avail, to show them the beauty of God’s Law, and how it is a Law of Life and not death (Lev 18:5). But usually ignorance born of tradition, and lack of context wins out in the end. So, I am writing this to show that even in some of the strictest times in the history of Jewish Law (I am speaking of Jewish Law because we have accurate records of it in action.) which is based on the Torah, it is nowhere close to being as cruel as even our own.

The humanity of Jewish law is most clearly revealed in its attitude toward capital punishment. While accepting it in principle as prescribed in the Mosaic law, the Rabbis nevertheless kept from prescribing the death sentence and protected it with so many strict laws of evidence as to make its application almost impossible. A Sanhedrin which imposed capital punishment once in seven years was considered tyrannical. Eleazer b. Azariah added, "even once in seventy years." R. Tarfon and R. Akiba declared, "If we had been members of the Sanhedrin, no man would ever have been put to death." The strong tendency of Pharisaic legislation was to do away with capital punishment altogether, and there was a marked trend to mitigate all forms of judicial punishment.

No circumstantial evidence was admissible in capital cases. If it wasn’t concrete it wasn’t allowed. There was a need of at least two reputable eyewitnesses (Duet 17:6). They had to be reputable and there testimonies had to agree on all accounts. No man could incriminate himself—a principle not found in Roman law which so much of our own laws are based upon. Because of this torture was ruled out. Writing of law enforcement in ancient Egypt, at the time of the New Kingdom (16-8 c. b.c.), Erwin Seidl states:

“Criminal law and criminal procedure were inhuman. In contrast to the Jewish law which limited corporal punishment to forty strokes, one hundred strokes was the ordinary punishment in Egypt. Torture was often used, not only upon the accused but also upon independent witnesses. Strange forms of capital punishment seem to have been practiced, such as leaving the prisoner to be eaten by crocodiles. It was a special favor to allow a convicted criminal to commit suicide. Numbers of criminals, with their ears and noses cut off, were condemned to forced labor in concentration colonies on the frontiers of the country.”

Athens and Rome also permitted the torture not only of slaves but of others to obtain evidence. Roman judicial procedure developed a very elaborate system of torture of the accused (quaestio) and of reluctant witnesses. The Fourth Book of Maccabees enumerates a list of the horrible instruments of torture—wheels, joint screws, dislocators, rocks, and bone-crushers, catapults, caldrons, braziers, thumbscrews, iron claws, wedges, and branding irons. From Rome, the institution of torture passed over to medieval Europe and was standard practice in England, Scotland, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, and elsewhere until the eighteenth century. Even today scandals of torture used by investigators on US citizens in the form of sleep and food deprivation are common place in today’s society. Not to mention cases of water boarding within our governmental systems. Which raises the question of just how far even our government will, or can go.

The Church itself, through the Inquisition, and many other periods, employed torture to extort confessions. Heretics were often tortured by the civil power at the direction of the religious authorities. In Asiatic countries, torture as part of the legal system was and in many cases still is almost universal. Modern totalitarian regimes have added psychological forms of torture to the already crowded chamber of human horrors. Jewish law forbade torture. There is no mention of it in the Bible and no reference to it in the Talmud except as employed by the Romans or by King Herod, who in many other cruel respects copied the ways of the Romans.

During the Second Temple period in Jewish law no kinsmen, paternal or maternal relatives, or relatives by marriage could act as witnesses. If the accused had not been first warned by the witnesses of the consequence of his contemplated crime, he could not be found guilty. The court sitting in a capital case was composed of twenty-three judges, and the trial was held in the court of the Hewn Stone in the Temple at Jerusalem. A simple majority was sufficient for acquittal, while a majority of two was required for conviction. All, including the disciples of the Sages who were not among the judges, might argue in favor of acquittal, but not all in favor of conviction. There had to be an opposing voice raised in favor of the accused. Unlike non-capital cases, one who had argued in favor of acquittal could not afterward change his mind and argue in favor of conviction, but he was always free to alter his position in favor of acquittal. A verdict of acquittal could be reached on the same day of the trial, but not a verdict of conviction. A verdict of conviction could be reversed, but not a verdict of acquittal.

The judges declared their opinion in order, beginning with the youngest who sat at the sides of the benches which were arranged like the half of a round threshing floor. This was done so that the younger judges might not be influenced by the opinion of their elders. Witnesses were thoroughly examined in inquest and cross-examination.

If the accused was finally found guilty and sentence was pronounced, every precaution was taken to the very last moment of the actual execution, to reconsider the verdict in case any new evidence was presented. The court appeared to be hoping to the very end that some new evidence would turn up to clear the man, or that some technicality would be pointed out to force an acquittal. As the condemned man was being led away to the place of execution, a man stood at the door of the court with a flag in his hand, and another, mounted on a horse, at a distance. If in the court someone said, "I have something new to argue in favor of acquittal," then the man waved the flag and the horseman hurried and stopped the condemned who was being led to execution. Even if the doomed man himself said, I have something new to argue. Even if he said this four or five times, provided that there was any substance to his words. A herald went before him calling out: “if any man knows anything in favor of his acquittal, let him come and plead it”.

When everything failed, the condemned man was urged to make confession. Because it was believed that everyone that makes confession has a share in the world to come. He was given a strong drugged wine to drink to benumb his senses. If his punishment was hanging, his body was let down immediately after the hanging, and was never allowed to remain on the scaffold overnight (Dt. 21:23). That would have been a needless indignity inflicted on a human being.

At every stage of the trial, sentence, and execution, one is made aware of the scrupulous care which Jewish law took to protect the accused—a care scarcely paralleled anywhere in the ancient world, and not everywhere in the modern world. Jewish Law’s deep regard for the sanctity of human life, its vast compassion for the erring and the sinner, its profound humanity and its instinctive abhorrence of the shedding of blood—even the blood of the guilty—are everywhere in evidence.

Yet many would have us believe that our God the Creator of the world was such a tyrant that we were to stone our children at the slightest offense, and use this as a justification of not following our Father’s law. Yet even Jewish law was more compassionate than our laws today. And anyone who has studied antiquity will know was far more stringent than that of Torah alone.

May many insights into the traditional views be illuminated by this article. It is my sincerest hope that this article will at least raise some questions into the typically negative view of the Will of our Creator or His law, and help to lead us to the truth. Let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua Ha-Mashiach (Jesus Christ). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our God. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The purpose of trials: Part 2

2010-07-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

            Along came the spiders.
           Oh I mean friends

Once again here we see a group of what many would probably call good people. They have journeyed to be with their friend in his time of need. Not what many would think of as overtly evil men. They were most likely not murderers or thieves. And once again we see that Satan didn’t use the obviously evil people in the world, to try and bring about the downfall of Job. He uses those close to him, and these friends have no idea of whom they are really working for.

Job 2:11 And Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, and they each one came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had met together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.
Job 2:12 And when they lifted up their eyes afar off, and did not know him, they lifted up their voice and wept. And each one tore his robe, and they sprinkled dust upon their heads toward Heaven.
Job 2:13 And they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights. And no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

   These three friends did not come to harm their friend. Their intentions were good, and honorable. How many people have heard the expression “the path to hell is paved with good intentions?” These three friends came to comfort their friend in his time of need. Many of us would have, and have done the same. The Scriptures say that as they approached their friend they spotted him from far off, and he was so badly afflicted with these boils that he was unrecognizable. He was so covered that his close friends couldn’t even recognize who he was. And they wept.   When they finally arrived next to Job they sat in silence for seven days because his grief was so great. They were so touched by his pain that they were rendered speechless for seven days. Once again its time to transport ourselves into the shoes of these friends. We have just heard that a close friend has lost all he owns, all his family, save his wife, and is afflicted with so many sores that they cover his whole body.    So you rush around to make preparations to go and be with your friend. You get everything ready for the journey because you know he needs all the support he can get. Now ask yourselves, what would be going through our minds during this? Would we be only thinking of our friend? Would we be considering what brought this terrible tragedy on? Now allow yourself to come back into our own being. And ask the question, in all that I have been through, in all that my friends, family and those we know have been through, does any of it compare to this?

At this point I am going to resist the temptation to go through the rest of the book of Job. But instead I will over view some of what happens next. I implore all who read this to really spend some quality time studying the rest of Job. It is amazing how many times in the dialogues between Job and his friends we see conversations we have had ourselves.

Right after the lamentations over his very birth in chapter three we see his first friend already start to accuse Job.

   Job 4:1 Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said:
   Job 4:2   If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? Yet who can keep from speaking?
   Job 4:3 Behold, you have instructed many, and you have strengthened the weak hands.
   Job 4:4 Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, and you have made firm the feeble knees.
   Job 4:5 But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it touches you, and you are dismayed.
   Job 4:6 Is not your fear of God your confidence, and the integrity of your ways your hope?
   Job 4:7   Remember: who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cut off?
   Job 4:8 As I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same.

   Eliphaz begins with reminding Job that he was thought of as a righteous person. He then continues with basically accusing him of sin. He asks the question who that was innocent ever perished? Or where were the upright cutoff? He is accusing Job of sinning and bringing on this punishment. This should sound familiar. I do not think that I have personally not been apart of any congregation to where this conversation has not come up at some point. I have seen televangelist make boastful claims constantly over this very issue. There are now people, in the world today, that have the false teachings, that the poor are only poor, because of there inequities. And just as Satan is using Eliphaze here he uses us when making the same claims. There are times when God punishes people for there inequities, but each and every time it is for instruction. It is to teach others. There are warnings, and teachings to prevent it. But to think that all trials and tribulation come from sin is an out right denial of Whom our God tells us He is

   Jobs friends each test him continuously. They accuse him of many things. It runs the gambit from accusations of sin and refusal to repent, too not being righteous enough in the first place. They point out just as many prosperity teachers today do that God wants us to be wealthy on this earth and it’s all about our happiness. This is a clever, and perverse falsification of the Truth in Scripture. But as I said earlier it is simply amazing how much of our logic today you will see in these dialogues.

   The conclusion

   But as for now lets skip to the end and read the conclusion of the dialogues.

   Job 42:7 After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
   Job 42:8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
   Job 42:9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.
   Job 42:10 And the LORD restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

   Through everything Job went through, the losses of possession, loss of health, pains beyond imagining, and even his wife and friends accusing and testing him, Job would not turn from God. He did not blame God foolishly, but accepted his Will in his life. He never gave in to the temptations to lie falsely about even his own life. He did not curse God. He worshiped God through everything. How many of us can say we would do the same under the circumstances? How many of us have failed in this while going through much lesser trials? How many are failing at this while going through something now?

   So many focus on the fact that at the end of all this Job was given twice as much as he had before. And many of the prosperity teachers today use this exact example in there flawed teachings. Yes Job was given twice as much as he had before.   But Job did not live within the Will of God or worship our Father, even in affliction, in expectation of personal or worldly gain. Job kept the Will of God for the sake of the Will of God. And for this he was rewarded. If one is living for worldly gain then the worldly gain will be his reward. We should all shoot for something much higher. Why settle for a life of wealth that does not last and is meaningless in the face of eternity? If we only keep the Will of God for a reward, we have already missed the point

   After going through a trial we should not expect wordily rewards as if we deserved payment. That is not how blessing’s work. Many time the reward is in blessings of the Spirit, and these are far more valuable. But most of the time the blessing or reward from the trial is the trial itself!

Using Job as our example, we must realize that this is not some fairy tale, this is the history of a man. Job went through all of this for a purpose. And contrary to popular belief it was not to put Satan in his place. It was to show us that No matter how bad are trials are there is something to be learned. Can you imagine how these events changed the life of Jobs friends? How many people throughout the history of the world have found comfort from the history of Job? Do not let his suffering for our sake go in vain. Does this sound familiar? There was another that suffered for our benefit. There was another that was tried, and tested to show us the way. And his name is Yeshua (Jesus), our Messiah. While on this earth in the flesh, Yeshua went through all the temptations man can face, he lived and taught us the true meaning of what the Will of God is in our lives. He was mistreated, humiliated, tortured, and slain all to show us the Love that our Creator has for us.

As the book of Job was, so were the Gospels recorded through the Holy Spirit to give us a living example of what to do, and how to live in the Will of God. We cannot let their sacrifices and suffering for us go in vain. We must take the time to understand what they meant and why they happened. We must learn and teach others the True Love and Will of God through Yeshua Hamashiach, and in the Holy Spirit

   2Co 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints who are in all Achaia.
   2Co 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
   2Co 1:3 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort,
   2Co 1:4 He comforting us in all our trouble, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in every trouble, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

   We are told that God comforts us in all of our troubles so we can comfort those who are in trouble. Our trials give us a testimony to others. We can say with all honesty we know what you are going through, we have been there, and it was Yeshua that pulled us through. Through our afflictions we are strengthened. Imagine yourself as a mountain climber. You start out with just your hands and the will to climb a hill. But as you climb you realize that you can’t do it alone. So you seek help, and through that help you are given the tools needed to climb the hill. Because of this you learn to rely less on yourself, more on God, and you gain more tools. Now not only can you show others how to attain the tools to climb the mountain, you can take on larger, and larger mountains until finally your mountains become mole hills before the Might of God. This is the true purpose of our trials. To equip us for what is ahead, and remind us that we cannot do anything without the Will of God in our lives. Nothing is truly possible without the Love of Yeshua, our Messiah.

   Heb 2:18 For in that He Himself has suffered, having been tempted, He is able to rescue those who are being tempted.

   Just as Yeshua, who we are to be disciples of, by overcoming our afflictions we are able to lead others to our deliverer.

   Our trials and tribulations are

   1. A way to strengthen us for what is coming ahead. They give us the tools we need to overcome temptation and truly live a life within the Will of our Father.

   2. Understanding so we can help others. It gives us the tools and the compassion to truly love, understand and help our fellow man.

   3. Witnessing tools by showing whom comforts and delivers us and leading others to the same comforter, and deliverer.

   4. A way to get many to worship through prayer

   5. A way to get many to worship through Thanksgiving.

As we close this journey, let us take this new insight and apply it to our lives. Lets start to look at our trials and tribulations as the blessings they are. Lets seek the knowledge, strength, and understanding they are meant to provide. So as we face these afflictions let us learn to be thankful for all the blessings that God provides. Even the ones we do not at first understand. I pray that as we go forth in our lives, study, and worship that we do so with eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the Glory of Yeshua our Messiah   Amen

The purpose of trials: Part 1

2010-07-05T08:35:00.000-07:00

                        The purpose of trials: Part 1

         So many of us, and those we know are going through some tough times. So many of us are going through some kind of trial or tribulation. Many blame God for what they feel are punishments or wrongs being done in their lives. I think this misconception comes from a general lack of understanding of the place of trials and tribulation in our lives. And not acknowledging the many benefits, they provide. We need to stop being so selfish in our thinking, and truly submit to the Will of our Father. By doing so we will submit and truly serve, and learn to love our fellow man. Not everything is about us as individuals. It is supposed to be about the Will of God. Through this article I hope to put all of our minds at ease. By showing what our trials are really all about, what they are for, and how we are to use them. So many may be surprised to learn that trials are not meant just as a punishment, but a blessing. So many of the blessings God provides, are misunderstood, and are in fact under appreciated. We rejoice at healing, and revelation, but what about the trials that strengthen us, or give us insight. We will be looking at the true blessings behind our trials throughout this article.


        The History of Job

    Many of us know or are at least familiar with the history of Job. And in this article we are going to discuss an overview of the Book of Job. Let’s start of with a little history or what is thought to be known of the Book of Job. Many scholars believe the Book of Job to be the earliest book in the Bible to be written. Now this should at least give it some significance. One of the very first writings inspired by the Holy Spirit was to give us a better understanding of God, and the place of trials in our lives. I think we should all give Job a good read and really study what is going on.

    Now the Book of Job is one of the best Books to study when we are going through hard times. If nothing else it gives us the ability to see, that no matter what we are going through, it could always be worse.   And if this is all that you get from it then it was at least worth the read right? But we can’t allow ourselves to stop there. There is so much that the Book of Job has to teach us about the purpose of trials in our lives.

        The Story of Job

    Right off the bat we see that Job was a righteous man, perfect, and God fearing.

    Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job. And that man was perfect and upright, and one who feared God and turned aside from evil

This is very significant and it must be remembered to put things in context. Job did not deserve the tribulation he is about to face. These trials are not a punishment for his sins. But they did in fact have a purpose.

Now as we read on in the Book of Job.   Satan has been given permission to test Job in verses six thru twelve. Verse six starts with a council held in Heaven to which Satan was present. When God asks Satan where he has been, and he answers. “From going to and fro in the earth and walking up and down in it’. He is blatantly stating that he owns the world and all who are in it. He is cocky and arrogantly stating his victory over fallen man, and the fallen world. But God brings up the one righteous man in the earth, Job. He states that none is like him in all the earth. In saying this God is letting satan know he has no hold on this man. In the process of this confrontation Satan issues a challenge to God, he states that he can control even this man if given the chance. He points out that of course he hasn’t turned from God. God has blessed him and protected him because of his true heart for obedience. And states plainly if he would but remove that protection, and let Satan test him, he would turn away from the Will of God. It starts just as it starts with most of us, by taking our possessions. Satan states plainly that he knows the heart of man. Man wants to own and possess. All he has to do is take away those possessions, then this man will curse him. Now take a moment to reflect over the trials most of us are going through.

So God gives Satan permission to test Job. But he is not allowed to afflict his person. He cannot touch Job himself. So Satan goes forth and in what can be described as one of the worst periods of time any man could go though.   Job begins to lose all that he has. And in verses threaten thru nineteen goes on to tell us that he losses all of his livestock, wealth, servants, and finally his family. Leaving him, only his wife.

Now take a moment and take this in, just like on the Holy days, the appointed feasts of God. Imagine yourself in Jobs shoes. Imagine you haven’t just lost your job but all your wealth. You have lost all your livelihood. You have lost you servants. Then to top it all off you have just lost all of your children. Let the waves of grief this must have caused wash over you. Imagine what our response would be. Now look at the petty trials many of us are going through, and see how they compare.


    But unlike most of us, Job stopped and praised God. His first response was to worship and pray to the creator of all creation.

    Job 1:20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped,
    Job 1:21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
    Job 1:22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.

In the midst of the greatest grief in his life Job worshiped. And acknowledge Gods sovereignty over his life. He blessed God. He didn’t question the Will of God. He did not sin. He did not blame God foolishly. Why do we so often ignore the history of Job when we go through our trials? Most of the time, our first response to loss, and grief, is to blame God. This is by definition sin. It is ignoring the Will of God.   It denies the nature of whom our God is.

So we continue with the Story of Job. In Job 2:1 thru 2:7. Our Bible once again gives us an account of another council held in Heaven. To which Satan once again comes in the Presence of our Father. And in his arrogance he once again falsely proclaims his victory over man and the world.   And God says well what about Job? Satan answers:

Job 2:4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yea, all that a man hath will he give for his life.
Job 2:5 But put forth thine hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will curse thee to thy face.   Job 2:6 And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life.

    Satan basically answers with; well fine, maybe taking his possession wasn’t enough. You got me there. But if you afflict a mans flesh, take his health, then he will crumble.

Satan knows just what buttons to push to get to the children of God. Don’t forget he has been destroying man for a while now. And has control over almost all of the earth. His tricks haven’t changed much from then to now. But then again ‘if it isn’t broke don’t fix it right?”. So anyway its time to get back to the point. He says “I can still win this. Fine, so this one is special. He understands that all the stuff on the earth doesn’t matter. He understands that it all belongs to God. But if you hurt him physically. Then he will curse you to your face. Taking his possessions didn’t phase him but when you afflict there flesh all men will fold.”.

    God gives Satan permission to afflict his flesh but not take his life. Satan then goes forth and afflicts Job with boils, painful sores that cover him from head to toe. Once again its time to use our imaginations. Imagine these sores. Imagine the constant pain. Not being able to eat or sleep. Being so afflicted you are unrecognizable. In such pain that you curse the day you were born.

    What happens next is something I think allot of people miss.

Job 2:9 And his wife said to him, Do you still hold to your integrity? Curse God and die

Here is his wife, not an evil woman. We can assume this because she is the wife of possibly the only truly righteous man on the earth. She is not evil. Satan rarely uses obviously evil people to do his work. He uses the every day, average people. He uses Church ladies, pastors, and deacons. Here satan used Jobs wife. She was not asking him to curse God out of vindictiveness. She was asking her husband to stop the suffering. Put yourself in her shoes. Here we have Job, her righteous husband. In more pain than most can even imagine, let alone endure. She was asking him to end his suffering. She wanted him to curse God to incur his wrath. Satan used the love of her husband to his own ends.


    And even through all of this, Job would not sin.

Job 2:10 But he said to her, You speak as one of the foolish ones speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

    Do not make the false assumption that meant that this was in anyway easy. Please read through chapter three. And really take the time to imagine the amount of pain this man was in. And once again compare your trials to Jobs.

I pray that we be given eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change as we go forth to put these perspectives to the test of Scripture, and seek the Truth of God. And in this Truth may we find the true peace of God in our lives.

Authority of the Rabbis? Part 2

2010-06-28T11:04:00.000-07:00

Authority of the Rabbis? Part 2

Is there any believer today who must follow the Rabbis as judges and legislators? No, for even in Israel in 2010, the Rabbis don’t wield the kind of civil authority over the general population as they did in the days of Yeshua. They are bound by the democratic nature of the State of Israel. Their authority is confined to their own sect, except in cases of marriage, divorce and burial where they have political sway in the Knesset (Congress or Parliament), of Israel. But even in Judah and Galilee in the days of Messiah, the Rabbis didn’t legislate their brand of theology. In other words, only Pharisees kept the Pharisaic teaching and way, and only Sadducees kept their way, and only the Essenes kept their way, etc.

Here too we can better understand Yeshua’s words in Mt. 23:2-3. The Sadducees weren’t put in jail because they didn’t follow the Pharisaic doctrine or way. The Essenes weren’t jailed because they didn’t keep the way of the Sadducees, etc. There were more than twenty different religious sects of Jews within Judah at the time of Messiah.   Each Jewish person was free to practice his way of faith. Consequently, each Jewish believer was also free to walk out his faith as he was led by his community (Acts 2:40-47; 5:33-42; 6:1, etc.), when there wasn’t persecution for it (Acts 8:1-4, etc.).

The Jewish believer could live out his faith without breaking any laws of the land. There was no law that said that everyone had to believe and act like a Pharisee, or ‘do as they’ said, in terms of religious matters. This is how the believer could be free to believe, but constrained to obey ‘all they tell you, do,’ as the authorities in judicial and legislative matters.

Yeshua also wanted His followers to work out those civil differences, or problems with others, beforehand, so that they wouldn’t go to prison for things that didn’t pertain to the Kingdom. Because in prison they would stay until they ‘paid the last shekel:

Luk 12:57   And why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?
Luk 12:58 As you go with your accuser before the magistrate, make an effort to settle with him on the way, lest he drag you to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the officer, and the officer put you in prison.
Luk 12:59 I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the very last penny.

This refers to the judgement of the bet din (‘house of judgment’ or courts). Listen to what the Master says and note his speaking of the judge:

Mat 5:25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.
Mat 5:26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Yeshua was concerned about us becoming entangled in the affairs of this world, to the detriment of the affairs of the Kingdom. He was giving His followers wise counsel that speaks to us today: don’t get caught up in things that are not of His Kingdom. It only wastes our time and energy. There are many ‘good causes’ out there, and many things, unrighteous things, that need to be made righteous, but we are to follow Him and do those things that He shows us to do.

Authority to adjudicate and legislate was taken away from the Pharisees, Scribes, and Rabbis, etc., with the fall of Jerusalem and never regained by them in any of the lands where the Lord dispersed His people (except among the Jewish communities). Even in Israel today, the Rabbis only hold a certain amount of civil authority. To illustrate their lack of civil authority in terms of religious matters, the breaking of Shabat (the Sabbath), is not a crime in the eyes of the State of Israel, even though biblically, it’s a sin of great magnitude (Ex. 31:15; 35:2, etc.). Of course, the Rabbis would love to see the Sabbath observed by all Israelis, and enforced, but they don’t have the civil authority to enforce it. And this is a Commandment of tremendous importance. They have absolutely no authority to enforce their religious ways or teachings upon any Israeli, believer or not. How much less a believer in another land?

The Rabbis have no authority to imprison anyone for breaking the Sabbath, or not eating kosher food, or not celebrating the Holy Days, etc. The people of Israel do not go to their courts (unless they are their followers), but even then, the secular courts of Israel can overrule and nullify the rabbinical courts. They have no power to legislate or enact laws or ordinances for the entire population of Israel. But it’s here in Israel, where their authority is much greater than anywhere else. Why would any believer voluntarily place themselves under rabbinic authority to a rabbi who does not know the Messiah of Israel?

The Rabbis were never meant to teach us. They didn’t teach Yeshua. They didn’t teach the Apostles. Why should they teach us now? This is another reason why their teachings are not binding on us, and why we are not under their authority. And they would agree with me on this. For what rabbi would accept a Jew who believes in Yeshua? And what bet din would want to have anything to do with such a Jew, let alone not be biased against him?

Another major problem with someone not understanding ‘all that they tell you, do,’ and trying to follow the teachings of the Rabbis is that Judaism doesn’t speak ‘with one voice’ (one teaching on all the subjects). It never has. Even in the generation before Yeshua, there were two very famous schools that fundamentally differed from one another, like day and night (the Schools of Hillel and Shamai). And the scriptural and halahic (how to walk out the Scriptures) controversies that separated their students are legendary. Today there are many sects within the Orthodox and Hasidic communities, etc., and each has their own rabbis that disagree with the other rabbis. So which sect or rabbi should a believer go to, if they were to misinterpret Yeshua’s words of Mt. 23:2-3?

Today within Judaism there are the Satmars and the Bretzlavs. There’s also the Lubavitchers who proclaim the late Rabbi Schneerson as the Messiah. And these are only three different sects within what is known as Hasidic Judaism. Then there’s Orthodox Judaism with its Neo-Orthodoxy and other various shades of ‘Orthodoxy.’ There’s also Conservative and Reform Judaism, as well.

We can glean much from two thousand years of rabbinic thought but we also must be aware of the tremendous anti-Messiah spirit that dwells within the Rabbis and their teachings. for the Spirit of the Living God, as well as the Talmud and Gematria, for these ways have truly warped many of the teachings of Moses. But just from a practical point of view, it would be next to impossible to determine which form of Judaism was ‘the right one’ that Yeshua would have wanted His followers to follow, if Mt. 23:2-3 is misinterpreted.

The Seat of Moses was a term used to denote judgment. In Mt. 23:2-3, Messiah Yeshua admonishes His followers to obey the Pharisees and Scribes, etc., in their authoritative roles as judges and legislators, not as teachers of Torah. They had civil authority to judge and so could place anyone in jail who didn’t obey them in those areas that dealt with the community issues. Another point we saw against obeying the Rabbis and their teachings had to do with the many confrontations with the Pharisees and Scribes, etc., that Yeshua had, over their interpretation of Scripture. Also, His words against them (Mk. 8:15, etc.), is a powerful incentive for us concerning anything rabbinical, let alone placing oneself under their teaching authority. Rabbinic authority today, even in Israel, is not as great as it was in the days of Yeshua, but even in His day, most Jews didn’t follow the Pharisees and Scribes. There’s no reason from an authoritative perspective then, to place ourselves under their authority to teach us. Yet even if we wanted to, what rabbi would we follow today? Judaism is very fragmented.

Those that say that believers should obey the teachings of the Rabbis misunderstand Yeshua’s admonition, not realizing that the Seat of Moses meant legislative and judicial authority, not theological. There is absolutely nothing in Scripture to substantiate, or to act as a second witness: to the poor interpretation of Mt. 23:2-3, that we should follow the Rabbis.

Deu 17:6 On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Deu 19:15   A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

Mat 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

2Co 13:1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

None of the Apostles ever placed themselves under rabbinic authority or sought their teaching. Why should we? There is only one Rabbi that we are to follow and to learn from; Messiah Yeshua (Mt. 23:8, 26:25; Mk. 9:5; 11:21; Jn. 1:49; 6:25; 11:8, etc.). For only He is able to give us the true understanding of the Word of God, and the ability to walk in it.

No wear does it say Rabbi or any man in Deuteronomy 13:4:

Deu 13:4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.

As a matter of fact this is taken from an out right command not to follow false traditions of men. And a warning about those who would claim authority over the word of God. We have Scripture, and we are to be lead by the Holy Spirit in its discernment. There is no need or room for the authority of man For Yeshua stated it best when he said that we could not serve two masters.

Mat 6:24 No one can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon

Basically we must remember there is only one master over our lives. Although there are many truths that can be gleaned from many men, we must remember the source of the teachings. There are some that believe we must follow the Rabbis in order to fully understand Scripture, but this idea goes against the very Scripture we are trying to understand (see authority of man?). We must also remember that although the Rabbis have been studying and commenting on Torah for over 2,000 years, they have done so with out the understanding’s given to us by our Messiah, and through His Holy Spirit. Yes there are many truths, in many of the teachings of the Rabbis, but that does not make them authoritative in our lives. And when we study the teachings of the Rabbis we must do so carefully. Seek the truth yet be weary of the lies.

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Authority of the Rabbis? Part 1

2010-06-21T20:12:00.000-07:00

Authority of the Rabbis? Part 1

Mat 23:2   The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat,
Mat 23:3 so practice and observe whatever they tell you--but not what they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

There are some that teach that we must adhere to the doctrines of the Rabbis because they teach that Yeshua Himself commanded this in Mt. 23:2-3. Aside from the fact that Messiah is telling us that the Scribes and the Pharisees had usurped Moses’ authority by ‘seating themselves in the Seat of Moses,’ their interpretation of the passage is extremely faulty. Yeshua wasn’t telling us to walk out our faith in
Him by rabbinical teachings, but rather to obey the authorities of the land, which, at that time, were the Scribes, Pharisees and Rabbis in their judicial and legislative capacities.

The Seat of Moses was a judicial position from which judgments between two or more people were issued.   In Yeshua’s day the Pharisees and Scribes had seated themselves in the Seat of Moses (Mt. 23:2). This understanding is brought out by both the Greek text and in some Bibles like the NASB and reveals that Yeshua wasn’t pleased with them in Moses’ Seat. In other words, God hadn’t put them there, but they had placed themselves there. This phenomenon is not unusual. It’s conceptually seen in the days of Hosea when the prophet says of Israel:

Hos 8:4 They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not. With their silver and gold they made idols for their own destruction.

To ‘seat oneself’ as the Pharisees did, was to usurp God’s authority. Yeshua was saying that since the Scribes and Pharisees were there, obey them in their judicial rulings and by extension, their legislative rulings. This is what we would call civil authority today. The Seat of Moses is a term taken from the days when Moses would sit and judge the people:

Exo 18:13 The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening.
Exo 18:14 When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?
Exo 18:15 And Moses said to his father-in-law, Because the people come to me to inquire of God;
Exo 18:16 when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.

Exo 18:25 Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
Exo 18:26 And they judged the people at all times. Any hard case they brought to Moses, but any small matter they decided themselves.

Also, the Judgment Seat of Messiah (Rom. 14:10; 2nd Cor. 5:10) and the Judgment Seat of Caesar (Mt. 27:19; Jn. 19:13; Acts 18:12, 16-17; 23:3; 25:6, 10-11, 17) point to the Seat of Moses in Mt. 23:2 as a seat of judgment. Yeshua spoke of following the Rabbis, Sadducees (for they had Temple authority and were of the priestly line), Pharisees and Scribes in their judicial capacity as judges (and legislators), not as teachers of the Law.

The Scribes, Pharisees and Rabbis, etc., had authority to adjudicate or to judge legal matters in the bet din, the courts of Israel. They could also act as legislators and enact laws for the community. It’s these positions of authority that Yeshua was speaking of for His followers to obey (adjudicative and legislative), not their doctrines.

When a judge-rabbi issued a court ruling involving a believer, or a city made a legislative ruling that effected a community, the believer was to obey it. The believer was not to say that it didn’t effect him because he believed in Yeshua. He was not to say that the judges or legislators had no authority ‘to tell him what to do’, because he only recognized Yeshua as his authority.   In other words, he was to keep the laws of the land, just as believers do in the United States, Bolivia, Canada, etc., today. They keep the laws of their respective countries (that do not hinder their walk with Messiah;

Act 4:19 But Peter and John answered them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge,
Act 4:20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.

Act 5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, We must obey God rather than men.

In this, Yeshua was following the Law of Moses which states that all Israel was
to obey the decisions of the priests (Sadducees) and judges:

Deu 17:8   If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the LORD your God will choose.
Deu 17:9 And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision.
Deu 17:10 Then you shall do according to what they declare to you from that place that the LORD will choose. And you shall be careful to do according to all that they direct you.
Deu 17:11 According to the instructions that they give you, and according to the decision which they pronounce to you, you shall do. You shall not turn aside from the verdict that they declare to you, either to the right hand or to the left.
Deu 17:12 The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.
Deu 17:13 And all the people shall hear and fear and not act presumptuously again.

With Moses and Joshua this law and punishment stood as a powerful incentive for godly obedience, but in the days of Yeshua, the position of the righteous judges had been usurped. In spite of this, Yeshua was telling His followers to obey their legal decisions. Yeshua was not saying that we should do everything that the Rabbis or Pharisees teach about Moses. This is evident from his saying not to do as they did. Yeshua was addressing two of the three ‘keys’ that were given to rabbis (and the priests who also had the key of forgiveness of sin; Lev. 4, etc.), upon ordination: the ability to teach authoritatively, to legislate and to sit as a judge. Yeshua addressed their civil authority. Paul conceptually says the same thing when he says in Rom. 13:1-2:

Rom 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
Rom 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.

The Apostle Paul also teaches that each congregation should have its own judges to discipline their people when he rebukes the Corinthians for taking one another to court before the pagan judges:

1Co 6:3 Do you not know that we are to judge angels? How much more, then, matters pertaining to this life
1Co 6:4 So if you have such cases, why do you lay them before those who have no standing in the church?
1Co 6:5 I say this to your shame. Can it be that there is no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between the brothers,

He says, ‘Isn’t there any among you who can judge these matters?’ He didn’t say they should go to the Rabbis in their cities for a ruling between two believers. Likewise, the Apostles in Jerusalem didn’t run to the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, Rabbis, or the anti-Yeshua High Priest for advice and counsel when they didn’t know what to do concerning the theology of what the Gentile needed to do in order to be saved (Acts 15:1-7).

They called their own council and with the help of the Holy Spirit, they determined the will of the Lord (Acts 15:1-21). They made a decree that all their communities followed (Acts 16:4). But believers were also to obey rabbinic judges and legislation in the days of the Apostles that effected them also.

Another perspective that shows us that Yeshua didn’t mean for us to walk in the teachings of the Rabbis are the many confrontations Yeshua has with them. The Gospels and Acts are filled with accounts of clashes over the very issue of proper interpretation of Scripture between the Scribes and the Pharisees, even the Pharisees that would come to believe (Matt. 15:1-20; 23:1-39; Acts 15:5, etc.).

In Mt. 15, Yeshua sternly rebukes the Pharisees for both their teachings and their hearts:

Mat 15:3 He answered them, And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.'
Mat 15:5 But you say, 'If anyone tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is given to God,
Mat 15:6 he need not honor his father.' So for the sake of your tradition you have made void the word of God.
Mat 15:7 You hypocrites Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said:
Mat 15:8   'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me;
Mat 15:9 in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'

It’s not just the Commandment that Yeshua cited that should concern us for He goes on to say that their doctrines are ‘the precepts of men.’ These words of our Messiah form a powerful barrier against any believer seeking the teachings of the Rabbis. For even though this was spoken to the Pharisees, everyone knows that the Rabbis are the spiritual descendents of the Pharisees. There are other admonitions of Yeshua that follow along this same line of thinking, concerning their doctrines and their stance against Messiah, that still stand today:

Mat 16:11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Mar 8:15 And he cautioned them, saying, Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.

Luk 12:1 In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Mat 23:13   But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

We must be very careful what we ‘take in.’ The teachings of the Rabbis can seem very sweet, as I’m sure they did back then to many people, but are the teachings of the Rabbis today any better than their spiritual Fathers? Are the Rabbis today leading their flocks into the Kingdom of Heaven any more than the Pharisees and Scribes did back then? So, how could Yeshua be commanding us to place ourselves under the Rabbis or their teachings? Some believers don’t understand Mt. 23:2-3 and say that we are to do everything that the Rabbis say, except for maybe renouncing Yeshua?

I am not coming against the Rabbis or those that follow them, and as you will see in next weeks article, I agree that there is much that can be learned from many of there traditions. But it must always be looked at as writings and teachings of men, by men, and for men. They are not authoritative in our lives. All things must be taken with a grain of salt so to speak. We should keep the source of our teachings in mind as we learn from men, and always be prayerful as to what we are learning, and how we are learning it. Remember there is but one Rabbi that we must follow and His name is Yeshua our Messiah. We must Remember that there is only one authority that is above reproach, and that is our Father in Heaven and His Holy Word.

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Authority of the Church? Part 2

2010-06-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

Authority of the Church? Part 2

Our Faith has been around since before God created Man (Satan was in charge of songs of worship before his fall). We were not the first to worship our God. The angels were created first. Our Church or faith is older than our actual creation. We perverted that worship many times over. Yeshua is the beginning and the head, in the fact that he is the living God (Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). Many think that there was a new church created by our Messiah. But the date of our true faith is much older indeed.

This is not the creation of a new God, Church or faith. It is an assembly made to bring us around to the original.

Isa 56:7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.

Jer 7:11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the LORD

Once again the house spoken of is not a new church but the Temple of God.

Mat 21:13 He said to them, It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers.

Also Yeshua is God, weather in human body or not. He has been around in one shape or form since the beginning. What came first, this church as many know it today, or God? Was the church created for man to worship in his own way, or were we meant to worship our God in Gods way? If it is the same God, in NEW YET PROMISED FORM, HOW CAN IT BE A NEW CHURCH? Is God never changing, and everlasting no matter what form he is in? It’s like people who say the scripture changes each time they read it to fit their life accordingly, but it’s not the scripture that changes. We are the ones who change. If that’s true, isn’t it the same here? The assembly, or faith (church) never change’s we do   And we weren’t ready to handle all of it. And so we got it a piece at a time. Doesn’t that make more sense and fit better into the history of our Holy Bible?   And if that’s the case how much can we handle now? Is it finished? Has our Messiah fulfilled everything?

Our Faith was not created for us, but we were created for it. If God created us, and our assembly is the faith in that God, how could we ever be so arrogant to think that a Church was made just for us? Its like saying God is our servant. God promises to care for, and watch over us. God Loves, and helps us. He was not created to serve us, but we were created to serve him.   Faith in God is for all mankind. But many seem to be under the delusion that it wasn’t that way from the beginning.

Gen 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

Even in the Old testament the nation of Israel was to be the light of the world.

Psa 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts

Psa 72:15 Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day

Isa 60:3 And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

When the Israelites were exiting EGYPT God preformed many miracles, signs and wonders. Not just for the Israelites, but to show the world He was the one true God.   The only thing that separated the Israelites with the rest of the world was their belief in the One True God. Abraham wasn’t a Hebrew until he believed in God.

The mistake I think most seem to be laboring under is whether or not there was ever a separation in the Faith, or that there was ever supposed to be a separation in the faith. I can find many instances in the Bible referring to the believers as Jews, nation of Israel, and the like. I can even find the Nazarene sect of the Faith in the one true God.

Act 24:5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes:

Act 28:22 But we desire to hear of thee what thou thinkest: for as concerning this sect, we know that every where it is spoken against.
Act 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

I can even find Christian.

Act 11:26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.

Act 26:28 And Agrippa said to Paul, In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?

1Pe 4:16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

But I have a hard time finding any other name for faith in God. Where is Baptist, catholic, Protestant, or the like? In Judah the term Jew meant he who has faith in God. If you’re not that then you might want to do some serious contemplating. Also many seem to think the Jews were meant to become gentiles, but it is the other way around:

Act 15:21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.

THE GENTILES WERE TO LEARN THE WAYS OF THE FAITH FROM THE PEOPLE THAT AT THIS TIME WERE CALLED JEWISH BELIEVERS OR JEWS.

Isa 9:1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
Isa 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.

Isa 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.

Isa 49:1 Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.

Isa 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.

Isa 11:10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples--of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

Isa 65:1 I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me; I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me. I said, Here am I, here am I, to a nation that was not called by my name.

We were to be taught the existing faith, not a new one. Yeshua was to restore the Faith to what it was meant to be.

Many point to the New Covenant and say that this proof that we have a new church. But to say this, is to forget the fact that the New Covenant was specifically promised, and given to Israel:

Jer 31:31   Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
Jer 31:32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD.
Jer 31:33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Jer 31:34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Isa 49:6 he says: It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

We are not joint heirs, just heirs. No new God, Church, or Body, just adding to the existing Faith. We were to be added to the existing covenant’s. Heirs adopted into the covenant, no longer gentiles or those of foreign beliefs. To be taught all the ways of God. Which was not the case in the time before the Messiah (or so was taught by man), Jews coveted their teachings and personal relationship with the One True God. Now they had to share. We are to follow the True Will of God, not to create our own. Believers, who follow, worship, and praise God. Believers who believe in the promised Messiah, and His Salvation. Believers who seek the truth and follow all of God’s Will. Not just the ones we choose. No longer gentile believers, just believers.

Many of these commandments that are taught by the false doctrines to replace the old covenant and commandments were in fact just to be the beginning of the Gentile believer’s doctrine. Gentiles unlike the Jews were not brought up in the true faith of God. So they needed to be brought in slowly with what they could handle. This is why we have but a few commandments based on the old in the New testament addressed to gentile Believers. Also I would like to point out that almost all of the Old commandments that are thought to be, done away with, are indeed mentioned or represented in the New.   And to teach the belief that the new covenant does away with the old is very dangerous indeed. Because if it did, we are all in trouble. If a new covenant does away with the old, then every time it rains we should be heading to a boat just incase. Out of fear of another world wide flood

Avram Yehoshua OF Ramat Gan, ISRAEL wrote - “To understand the New Covenant from the Hebraic Perspective is to see it as an extension of the Old, not a completely new and separate reality as the Church has taught for 1,900 years. To fully understand the New Covenant is to see it as a rose on the stem of the Old Covenant, both thriving and alive.”

In the beginning God created man. He gave them one commandment and as long as they followed this one commandment then they were innocent. This was the first covenant God made with man. Then Man fell away. So God looked and found only one person that would listen to him so he had him build an ark, and then preceded to destroy the earth with a flood. After this, God made a new covenant with man to never destroy the earth with a flood again. Moving forward, we come to Abraham. And once again we see another new covenant with man. Then there’s the covenant with Isaac, then Moses and so on. If one destroys the other, what are we now left with? Is God a liar? For most of these covenants were stated to be everlasting. So how then, can we believe, that the new covenant did away with the old? Does it then make more sense that it doesn’t, and all covenants just add to the others to make a perfect covenant, or a fulfilled covenant?

If the church is the finial authority, then why does the Church as we know it have so many Pagan beliefs? Such as Sunday instead of Sabbath, Easter, Christmas, the Cross, and steeple just to name a few? As a matter of fact there is a prophecy in Daniel that speaks of this very thing:

Dan 7:25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times (feasts) and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.
This tells of the corruption that has in so many cases become the church.

Avram Yehoshua OF Ramat Gan, ISRAEL wrote - “Understanding the Scriptures from a Hebraic perspective reveals to us how the Messiah calls us to walk with Him, both Jew and Gentile. There is more to the Word than initially meets our eye. And there is more to the Word that does and would effect us, to walk in His Way, if we only understood what the Church intentionally buried 1,900 years ago, and continually demonizes. For it’s by our understanding that we follow the Lord and obey His Will, the Scriptures. But if our understanding is faulty on a grand scale, involving not just us but everyone around us, we all fail to do His Will at those points of ignorance and satanic deception.”

The Revelation at Mt. Sinai, with God taking a wife (Israel), and sharing with her His desire for her (His Commandments, Words), reveals the Will of God. No other people had this. And no other people walked in this relationship, for better, and more times than not, for worse (due to Israel’s carnal nature, sins of rebellion and disobedience to God’s Law), than Israel. Does God’s will on sin change? Is He not the same yesterday, today and forever? So how can one possibly think that Sabbath has given way to Sunday? Where is any Scripture in the New Testament to declare such a major change? Where do we get the idea that we now have a whole new church? There is not one Scripture in the New Testament that decrees it as such.

Torah is the epitome of God’s Love to Israel. God has revealed Himself to His people and in this, He has revealed what is pleasing to Him and what is sin in His eyes.

Yeshua, far from destroying or replacing the Law claims to uphold it

Mat 5:17   Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.
Mat 5:18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Mat 5:19 Therefore whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Yeshua teaches us that the Law is God’s definition of love: ‘On these two Commandments’ (love God and love your neighbor), ‘hang the whole Law and the Prophets.’ Every law, every Commandment, every statute, has its ‘reason for being’ in showing us how to love God, or how to love each other. Each and every one of them.

Mat 22:37 And he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the great and first commandment.
Mat 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

With the coming of Messiah did that change? The only thing that changed, or was given the ability to change, was man. We were given the opportunity to die to self as spoken of in Romans chapter six. So that we might live in Messiah and walk as he walked.

1Jn 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1Jn 3:2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
1Jn 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
1Jn 3:5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.

Now, with His Spirit residing within, we can follow Him. We can be like Him. Was it sin for Him is sin for us? How could it not be sin for us then? Would it matter if one was born a Gentile? Since when does race determine what is sin and what is not? God determines what is sin, for all.

The word is the final authority, not the Church, because as we have seen many times throughout history, our assemblies do not get things right very often. That is why we have the Word, Laws, and commandments. It is by the authority of the church that the Word of God has been perverted throughout history, to slaughter untold numbers of innocent people. Man must never think that he has authority over the Word of God. That is one of the main points of our Messiah’s ministry, to remove the false teachings of man. And how do we repay him? By doing the same thing all over again!

In the Churches of man ( that so many have become) Men have the authority. Many of these churches define themselves in ways that are not truly found in scripture. And in these cases’ men have authority over the man-made church. But in assemblies that truly follow God then God has all authority. If man creates an assembly, then man can govern it, but if God creates an assembly then God controls it.

We have no authority without God, his Word, commandments, and Laws. God is the authority, we only get any resemblance of authority, if God is actually dwelling in us, and we are actually acting by his Will set forth by his Word. God does not follow men. Men follow God

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our Father

The authority of the church? Part 1

2010-06-07T14:40:00.001-07:00

The authority of the church? Part 1

Let's define the word “Church”,   from the Old English and German word pronounced kirche. In Scotland, it was kirk.

The following entries are from the Oxford Universal English Dictionary:

Church [Old English cirice, circe; Middle English chereche, chiriche, chirche; whence churche, cherche, etc.: -Greek Kuriakon...]

Kirk The Northern English and Scottish form of CHURCH, in all its senses.

The word church would have been an acceptable translation for the Greek word kuriakos. However, not by the wildest imagination of the most liberal translator can it ever be used for ecclesia. In the earlier Greek It was pronounced ku-ri-a-kos or ku-ri-a-kon. As we can see, this word doesn't even resemble the Greek word ecclesia, whose place it has usurped. The meaning of Ku-ri-a-kos is understood by its root: Ku- ri-os, which means lord. Thus, kuriakos (church) means pertaining to the lord. It refers to something that pertains to, or belongs to, a lord. The Greek kuriakos eventually came to be used in Old English form as cirice (Kee-ree-ke), then churche (kerke), and eventually church in its traditional pronunciation. A church, then, is correctly something that pertains to, or belongs to, a lord.

Now, as we can see, there is a major problem here. The translators broke the rules in a big way. When they inserted the word church in the English versions, they were not translating the Greek word kuriakos, as one might expect. They were substituting an entirely different Greek word. This was not an honest acceptable translation for the Greek word ecclesia.

Now, let's look at the word, ecclesia . This Greek word appears in the New Testament approximately 115 times. That's just in this one grammatical form. It appears also in other forms. And in all but 3 instances, it is wrongly translated as church in the King James Version. Those three exceptions are found in Acts 19:32, 39, 41. In these instances the translators rendered it assembly instead of church. But, the Greek word is exactly the same as the other 112 entries where it was changed to church wrongly.

In Acts 19, ecclesia is a town council: a civil body in Ephesus. Because of this the translators were forced to abandon their erroneous translation in these three instances. Nonetheless, 112 times they changed it to church. This fact has been covered-up under centuries of misuse and ignorance. The Greek word ecclesia is correctly defined as: The called-out (ones) [ECC = out; KALEO = call]. So we can see how this word was used to indicate a civil body of select (called, elected) people.

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica:

In the New Testament, ecclesia (signifying convocation) is the only single word used for church. It (ecclesia) was the name given to the governmental assembly of the city of Athens, duly convoked (called out) by proper officers and possessing all political power including even juridical functions.

Many believe that it is the Church that has all authority in the matters of faith on this earth. I do not even have to really point to one religion or denomination because almost all have this belief.

But the ecclasia would be better stated as called out for authority, specifically chosen by Messiah while acting in the Name of Messiah. To go forth and teach the nations (starting with the nation of Israel) the True Word of God. Showing the fulfillment of the prophecies of old and replacing man made church with faith in God.   Through His will, and commandments.

Many believe Christ created the Church and taught the first followers, giving them authority to act in His behalf.

But does the church really act in His behalf?   And the question is, If we are not acting in his behalf do we have his authority? It’s like praying in the name of Yeshua (Jesus). As long as you pray in the name of Yeshua (Jesus), in his behalf, and for his glory then all things will come.

Joh 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
Joh 14:14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Joh 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Php 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

But the first time you pray in His name out of selfishness, then you are not asking in the name of Yeshua, you are asking in your own name.

Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

And when you ask in your own name or the name of someone, or something other than our Messiah, and we ask a mountain to move, does it?

Mat 16:15 He said to them, But who do you say that I am?
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

If the church is a new church why didn’t he tell anyone else? I have found no scripture that supports the idea that our Messiah created a whole new church. The Scripture’s tell of an assembly of Jews who believe in the Messiah and that he has come. He starts off by asking who am I. The answer was the Son of God. He didn’t ask, am I the new beginning of a new church, but who am I. The rock or foundation is that SIMON believed Yeshua (Jesus) was the messiah. For the first ten years after the resurrection, there were no Gentiles in this Assembly. Only when Cornelius comes into the Kingdom of Messiah Yeshua, the King of the Jews, does it take a new turn:

Act 11:18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.

It was entirely Hebraic (Jewish) up until then, the continuation of the faith of Abraham, Moses and King David. It is the promise fulfilled that was made to these men and many other Hebrew men, as Luke writes of:

Luk 1:30 And the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luk 1:31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
Luk 1:32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Luk 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.

Interesting that it’s the House of Jacob and not ‘the Church’ that the Lord will reign over forever. Yeshua, too, speaks of His continued Hebraic roots in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible:

Rev 22:16   I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the assemblies. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.

It is not a new church but a fulfillment of the prophecies of an existing faith.

Gen 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

The scripture says everlasting, not lasting until the Messiah comes. Scripture says he was the stone the builders rejected that became the capstone. Not the capstone of a new faith, but the corner stone of the existing one.

Psa 118:22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Isa 28:16 therefore thus says the Lord GOD, Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: 'Whoever believes will not be in haste.'

The new or old church is a misunderstanding of what Ecclesia means. First off it means assembly. Not meaning that only those in this group will be apart of the belief, and blessing of the Messiah, but all who come to believe. Not one church (assembly) or another, but all those who come to belief. Many seem to be under the understanding, that there is a separation in the Church or assemblies that believe in God the Father and his promised Son Yeshua the Messiah. Once again I can’t find any scripture that supports this view. And for his Glory, is the Glory of God the Father. The God of a well-established faith.

Psa 45:6 Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
Psa 45:7 you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;

Psa 102:25 Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
Psa 102:26 They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away,
Psa 102:27 but you are the same, and your years have no end.

Were does it say God changes, and a new Church is coming?   The same faith that prophesied that the Messiah was coming, is the same faith that accepted him

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Not a new church, religion, or faith. Yeshua didn’t usher in a new God.

Mic 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

Psa 2:7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you.

Pro 30:4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know

His Church (ASSEMBLY) is from long ago, from the days of eternity (before the creation of time and counted days).

Quoting from the Oxford Universal English Dictionary on the word ecclesia :

Ecclesia [mediaeval Latin, and Greek - from : SUMMONED] -A regularly convoked assembly, especially the general assembly of Athenians. Later, the regular word for church.

The ecclesia or ekklesia was the principal assembly of the democracy of ancient Athens during its Golden Age (480–404 BC). It was the popular assembly, opened to all male citizens over the age of 18 by Solon in 594 BC meaning that all classes of citizens in Athens were able to participate, even the thetes. The ecclesia opened the doors for all citizens, regardless of class, to nominate and vote for magistrates - indirectly voting for the Areopagus - have the final decision on legislation, war and peace, and have the right to call magistrates to account after their year of office. In the 5th century BC their numbers amounted to about 43,000 people. However, only those wealthy enough to spend much of their time away from home would have been able to participate until Pericles' reforms in early 451-2 BC allowing payment for jurors. The assembly was responsible for declaring war, military strategy, and electing strategoi and other officials. It originally met once every month, but later it met three or four times per month. The agenda for the ecclesia was established by the Boule, the popular council. Votes were taken by a show of hands.

Richard Anthony wrote -     Matthew 16:18, …And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church (Greek - ekklesia)…
The Greek word ekklesia, is used 115 times in the New Testament, and in most bibles, it is always translated as church (except in Acts 19:32,39,41, where it is properly translated as assembly ).

The first complete English bible was the Tyndale bible in about 1524, and that bible did not use the word church anywhere in its pages, it used the word congregation. Sometime after this bible they started replacing the word congregation with the word church.

Now, some people might say we're just mincing words; they say, Church, assembly, what's the difference?   “You know what I mean when I say Church.” But words are very, very important according to the Word of God. The following verses tell us that one of the duties of all disciples of Messiah is to diligently look at the words to describe His Body.

Matthew 4:4, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 12:36-37, But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Proverbs 6:2, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

Proverbs 30:5-6, Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

One of the jurisdictions of the natural man is the Church. There are many Churches out there, even the Church of Satan. The Church of Wicka. The Church of Humanity. You name it, there's a Church for it. We have to differentiate because our Messiah’s ekklesia is not the Church. If you look in a dictionary, under the word Church, it's defined as a place of worship of any religion as a Jewish or heathen temple. When the world says Church, they are thinking of a building or a structure, and this is actually the original meaning of Church, but somehow it transferred over as being the body of Messiah. But as we're told in scripture, God dwelleth not in temples made with hands

Act 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

2Co 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

Heb 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

There's many different definitions for the Church, and it's really an arbitrary and capricious word. And we're going to take a look at how the natural man got jurisdiction over that. Man got jurisdiction over the Church because Man is the one that created it, he's the one that took the word ekklesia to a word that has no substance.

Now lets look at the meaning of Ekklesia

First, we'll look at the meaning of what our Messiah’s ekklesia is, we'll look at the real thing first, then we'll compare the legal fiction that's being created as the substitute for God’s ekklesia. The word ekklesia is the original Greek Word, it was used in the Septuagint. So, the seventy-two translators that translated the Septuagint around 280 B.C. were very much aware of that word ekklesia. They used it in the Septuagint as a replacement of the Hebrew for the congregation of Israel.

Now, if we go to the modern word studies on ekklesia, they'll always point to the secular meaning of the Greek, that it was a group of citizens called together. They rarely go to the original meaning. The first time it's spoken in the New Testament, by our Messiah, is:

Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my ekklesia…

When you go to Tyndale's bible, which was the first English Bible, he translated ekklesia as assembly. In the George Ricker Berry Interlinear Greek/English New Testament (it's a literal translation of the Greek into English), which was written in the late 1800's, he translated ekklesia as assembly, and you won't find the word church anywhere in there. Yeshua only used the word ekklesia three times. It's not recorded in the book of Mark, John, or Luke. Matthew is the only one who recorded it.

In Strong's Greek Concordance, the word ekklesia (word #1577) is defined as an assembly, and it's from the word ek, (word #1537) which means out of ; and the word klesis (word #2821) which means a calling. So ekklesia means to be called out, and obviously Yeshua is the one that's calling us out. But is that the first time we were ever called out?

The apostle Paul wrote:

2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Now Paul is quoting the Old Testament from Isaiah 52:11

Isa 52:11 Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.

So we were called out in the Old Testament. In the Septuagint, Isaiah 52:11 reads, Depart ye, depart, go out from thence, and touch not the unclean thing; go ye out from the midst of her; separate yourselves, ye that bear the vessels of the Lord.

From the Hebrew Tanach it is Depart , depart, go out from there   Touch no unclean thing   Come out from it and be pure, you who carry the vessels of the Lord.

So, when you go to the original Greek in the Septuagint and find out what those verses mean, you find out what you're being called out of. And that's what His ekklesia is, it is those who are called out.

When Isaiah says, go ye out from the midst of her, what does that mean? Well, when you go to the original Greek, out from the midst means out from the center. And the word her is from the Greek autos which means self.

In Hebrew it is the same word used in Exodus 3:10, speaking of coming out of Egypt or bondage.

So basically, what this verse is saying is to depart and separate yourself from your self will (those wants of the world), bondage, and touch not the impure. So what we're called out of is our self   We're called out of the self-will and all of those things that have to do with the flesh. And that is His ecclesia.

This goes along with:

Mat 10:38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

The apostle Paul said, I die daily,

1Co 15:31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day

What this means is to do His Will, and crucify the deeds of the flesh, kill our old man.

So, there's only one definition for ekklesia, and that's assembly (or congregation). Now, how is it possible to take the word church (which means a physical structure) and insert it in there? Because the word Church does not mean assembly at all. It doesn't even closely correlate.

The idea that Yeshua created a whole new church and called out His first members doesn’t even make since. The Apostles were not the first to believe in Yeshua as the Messiah   Joseph and Mary were the first to believe in the Messiah before his birth. John the Baptist is the first to have Devine inspiration that Yeshua (Jesus) was indeed the promised Messiah. And many before believed in the coming of the promised Messiah. But he did call out his first believers that he elected to die to self, and teach the people the uncorrupted massage of the One True God. Not a new church, religion, or faith

Yeshua our Messiah is not the beginning of a new church, but a restoration of an existing and perverted belief. The called out assembly were the beginning of the elected believers in the messiah, those first to be called out by Messiah to remove there old man. They are the assembly that would bring about the restoration of the scriptural belief and not the perverted doctrines of man that go against that scripture. We were not called out to authority but called out of our worldly flesh and beliefs

Not a new Church of Christ, but his Fathers (They are one in the same). Not a new Church but a redefining of the existing faith.

Mal 3:1   Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.

Mat 16:15 He said to them, But who do you say that I am?
Mat 16:16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

Yeshua never said he would build his church upon these men. But he was electing the first to be called out of them selves and follow him. The rock was not the man, but his belief that the Messiah had come.

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our Father

Authority of Man?

2010-05-31T14:23:00.001-07:00

Authority of Man?

The false illusion that is the authority of man has thrown off believers since the beginning. I would have a hard time finding a church, religion, or denomination that doesn’t claim some kind of authority. Whether it is Popes, Priests, Rabbis, or Pastors, all religions seem to fall under the same problem. They claim authority over things they have no right to.

But do men have any authority? And if they do, does it exist outside of the power of God? I think Yeshua stated it best when he said give unto Caesar that which is Caesars, and give unto God that which is God’s.

Mat 22:21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

Although admittedly here, Yeshua is speaking of taxes. But aren’t taxes only claimed through authority?

Is their authority in this world outside of God? I believe the answer is yes, as of now unfortunately. Not that any man has authority over God, but many men have authority in their lands, such as your local criminal court, or the governments of the world. There are defiantly groups we have to submit to in this world outside of our faith.

So how are we to act when submitting to the authority of the world that governs so much of our worldly lives?

I believe this is where reading the Tanach (Old Testament) can really help. Look to all the stories from the different exiles we have. In Genesis chapters’ 39-47 when taken as a salve to Egypt, Joseph submitted to his earthly masters will. The only time that he refused was when his Master’s wife continually tried to get him to lay with her. When he refused, she brought false witness against him, and because of this he was thrown in prison. Yet once again he submitted to his earthly masters will. Once again he was put in charge of the very prison he was forced to live in. Later because of God interpreting dreams through him, he was put in charge of all Egypt. He submitted to his earthly masters, and because of his faithfulness he was able to save his people in the time of great famine.

Daniel is another good example. He was so faithful that he was given great authority in the kingdom of Babylon. The only time he went against the laws of the land was when they went against the Law’s of God. We are given constant examples in our Holy scripture. They teach us to follow the Laws of the Land, to be good, and humble servants. The only time we are told to ignore or go against the authority in the land, is when that authority goes against the Law of God. This is how we must view all authority seemingly held by men.

Yeshua unlike most of us, actually practiced what he preached. Yeshua taught us to submit to civil authority. As long as, it did not go against the Will of God.

The real problem comes when man decides to claim authority over the very Word of God. We have to realize that there is no authority over our faith outside of God. The only time man has authority within our faith, is when he is acting within the Word of God. Man is never the authority. It is always God. It is my belief that the best place to see this in action is in:

Mat 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Mat 16:19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

Here we see the Apostle Cephas (Peter) being in full agreement with the Will of God. In this moment he has declared, through revelation from our Father in Heaven, that Yeshua is the promised Messiah. In doing so he is in full accordance of our Fathers Will. Because of this proclamation, which is the key to the kingdom of Heaven, he is given authority to bind and loose anything in Heaven and Earth. That is huge. Because of this proclamation, many now say, Peter is given all authority. So now whatever Peter says all have to do right?

Yet in the next few verses it states

Mat 16:22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you."
Mat 16:23 But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man."

In a matter of a few verses’ Cephas (Peter) goes from having all authority to bind and loose whatever he sees fit in Heaven and Earth to being called satan. As soon as this man had one thought outside of the Will of God, he goes from having authority through God, to being called satan.

Man only has authority when they are living within the Will of God. Mans authority, as it pertains to the matters of faith and Spirit, only exists within the Will of God. It is the Will and Word of God, which gives and has authority, not the man his self.

We as disciples of our Messiah are not to seek authority over others we are to seek to be servants of man. We are continually reminded throughout our Bible to be humble

Psa 25:9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

Psa 76:9 when God arose to establish judgment, to save all the humble of the earth. Selah

Psa 147:6 The LORD lifts up the humble; he casts the wicked to the ground.

Psa 149:4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

Pro 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

We are to in all things humble our selves. We are not even to give ourselves titles.

Mat 23:8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers.
Mat 23:9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.
Mat 23:10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.
Mat 23:11 The greatest among you shall be your servant.
Mat 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Yeshua taught us that we are not to give our selves titles. We are to put all titles of authority away. We are not to claim to be teachers for there is but one teacher We are not to be masters for there is but one Master We are not to be rabbis for there is but one Rabbi. Why would we want to follow men who claim authority when Yeshua commanded us to be humble? If they really had authority over men, wouldn’t they know this truth from our Messiah?

Why do we insist on following those who refuse to humble themselves? Why do we follow men with the very titles that Yeshua taught his followers not to take? If we put our faith in men, they will let us down every time, because all men are flawed.

Mat 20:25 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
Mat 20:26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
Mat 20:27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,
Mat 20:28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mar 10:42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
Mar 10:43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
Mar 10:44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
Mar 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Man-made LABELS need to be removed from our lives, it is the labels that separate us more than any belief. We start to defend our particular brand of faith after we label it. Most of the time in the midst of this defense we lose sight of the truth, because it just isn’t as important as defending the faith.

Ecc 7:20 Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.

Rom 3:10 as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one;

There was only one man whoever walked this earth and truly lived without Sin. There is but one true Messiah and his name is Yeshua (Jesus)! So why then do so many of us put so much faith in men? We all need to take a step back from the doctrines and theologies of men and spend some time in our Holy Scripture, seeking the Truth that can only be found in our Messiah!

The fact is no man can lead you to God. No man can lead you to truth. No man can lead you to salvation. You must seek in order to be found. We as individuals must seek after God in order to find him. We as individuals must seek the truth, in order for it to be given. We as individuals must seek salvation in order for salvation to be found.

Do not believe anything I write because I write it. Put all things to the test. To this day I have not met a perfect man outside of our Messiah. All have sinned, and fallen short. We must stop putting our faith in the hands of flawed men. We must seek our truth through the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Which brings us to the next question?

Do we need men to teach us how to understand scripture?

1Jn 2:27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Let no man deceive you. Nobody needs the guidance of men to seek and understand scripture. We must put aside our traditions, and commentaries. And seek the Truth of God within the Word of God. There are no short cuts. Sure in walking out the Holy Scriptures on our own we are gonna fail often. We will get many things wrong in the process. But that is what growth is all about. If you read a book about riding a bike it will never compare to actually trying to ride one and falling a few times. It is in getting up that we learn to ride. It is the same with the Truth in our Holy Scripture. We must learn and fall for our selves. It is in fellowship that we help each other grow and get back up. If you learn a great truth from another man, or commentary then you never really learned it yourself. When Simons name was changed to Peter, and he was given so much authority it was from a revelation from God that made this possible. Not by what he had heard from man!

I am not promoting open rebellion of all authority, not even the authority of men of any faith. I am only pointing out that no man is above reproach. And when we do submit ourselves under the authority of a teacher, we must keep all things in their proper perspective. We must remember that no matter how holy, or righteous a man seems to be. At the end of the day he is only a man.
If Torah is the goal, and Yeshua is the living Torah, we need to stop lowering the bar to the ideas of man and keep our focus on the true target.

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our Father!

False Prophets

2010-05-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

                                        False Prophets

Mat 7:15   Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Lets start, by asking the question. Are we to be cautious of false prophets? Do false Prophets appear like believers on the surface? We are told in Matthew 7:15 to beware of false prophets. They are likened unto sheep’s in wolves’ clothing.

Mat 7:15   Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

False prophets are very real. They are in place to lead the immature away from the Will of God. They are a very real threat in this world. It is imperative that we are well studied and strong in our faith so we can recognize these wolves, and lead others away from them.

False teachers can be very hard to recognize. The fact is, our flesh is going to seek out the false prophets, over the true every time. True prophets and teachers will teach us to follow the Will of God, and will lead us to obedience. False prophets and teachers will try to show us a false freedom, which is really just a dressed up form of bondage. So how do we know false prophets?

Mat 7:16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.
Mat 7:18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Yeshua (Jesus) said we will recognize them by their fruits. We can see them for whom they are by their works. If you haven’t read the last article, faith of the heirs defined. Please go back and do so before continuing.

Our fruits are our works. If all you see from a teacher is lies and deceit. Or even if all that is seen is some kind of worldly gain, then you may just be dealing with a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Yeshua taught us that no good can come from diseased teachers and their diseased doctrines. We are warned that those who do teach something other than the truth will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So before we go on to describe the disease. Lets take a moment and go over the idea of fruit.

What is good fruit that believers bring forth?

Joh 15:8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.
Joh 15:9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.
Joh 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.

Yeshua taught us that in order to glorify our father, we must bear much fruit. And it is by this that we prove to be Yeshua’s disciples. we are shown that in order to show a true discipleship of our Messiah, we must glorify our Father, and bear much fruit. He teaches that as the Father has loved the Son, so the Son loves us. We are taught to abide in his Love. But once again Love and discipleship are directly linked to keeping the commandments. We are shown that it is by keeping His commandments we abide in his Love. He shows us the idea of discipleship, as following his example, and walking as he walked. And here in verse ten Yeshua (Jesus) our Messiah is teaching us that he kept the Fathers commandments. and by doing so abide’s in His Love.

In order to really claim that we are disciples, we have to walk as our Messiah walked, and our Messiah kept the commandments. These verses are not taken from the Tanach (old Testament.) These are from the gospel of John. These are the words of our Messiah. So why are we so quick to ignore them in favor of teachings from false prophets?

Our flesh wants to believe that there is no Will that we have to follow. Our flesh wants to believe the false interpretations and teachings that say we can now live in sin. We want to believe that freedom from God’s Will is anything other than bondage in its truest form

It is here in John 15:8-10 that we get our truest definition of what fruits are meant to be. So many have fallen under the false interpretation that the fruits are only saved souls. But the simple fact is we do not know the hearts of men. Let’s look at an example.   If I were to make a false claim that I have personally saved more than 100,000 souls. How would you know the difference? Or better yet, lets say there was an evangelist that taught that, hey, come up say some magic words, and all your sins are forgiven. And now that you have said these magic words, you will be rich, and have a genie God that will grant all your wishes as long as you send me some trivial amount of money. How many people do you think would line up to be saved by him?

Now lets say, right across the street, another teacher shows the truth of scripture. This teacher teaches from scripture that salvation breed’s obedience. And you are not going to have an easy life because of following this God. You will want to be poor instead of rich, but the possession’s of this life really aren’t important. And all you have belongs to God anyway, so why should we focus on fame and fortune. Whom do you think will be more popular?

Statements of the tongue are not works (Fruit). The fruit that can be seen is ones obedience too our Father through discipleship of the one and only begotten Son, Yeshua (Jesus) our Messiah. These fruits are the keeping of the commandments (Will of God, Law, Law of Moses, LOVE.)

So the exact opposite of fruits would be the disease that we spoke of earlier. It is teaching the false truths and traditions of man. The thorn bush is set to destroy the clear teachings of our Messiah. It is going against the Will of our father that is the disease. I was once one of these false prophets and I didn’t even realize it. I was teaching a gospel that didn’t truly exist in scripture. I taught the free willing sloppy agape that so many have fallen under. I as so many others’ showed only half of the picture.

So one may ask how is it that you were a false prophet without realizeing it? Are their people that think they are bringing forth good fruit, but actually are bringing corrupt fruit?

Mat 7:21   Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

Not everyone who claims Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. Doesn’t that just send chills down your spine? The idea that as long as you speak some magic prayer, all is well, takes on a whole new depth of evil doesn’t it. There are many that teach a false gospel. They can prophecy, cast out demons, and even do mighty works in the Lords name. But they never knew him. So how do we know if we know him? Once again by not being workers of lawlessness. So ask yourself, are we supposed to follow the Law?

Some may point out that some translations have the word translated as lawlessness (anomia). And some translators write it as iniquity.   So is there a difference between the two? What is the Fathers Will and what is iniquity?

Lev 5:17 And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

Sin and iniquity are the definitions of lawlessness. They are the product of going against the Will of our Father (Law, Law of Moses, Torah, commandments.) Leviticus 5:17 says if a soul sin it is by breaking the commandments of the Lord. This is iniquity, lawlessness.

If not all that say Lord, Lord, actually know our Messiah. How do we know that we know Him and are in Him?

1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 Whoever says I know him but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him,
1Jn 2:5 but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
1Jn 2:6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Is the connection becoming clear yet? If we claim to know him, we will keep His commandments. All those who do not are liars’ and the truth is not in them. False prophets will not keep the commandments. False prophets will lead others away from the commandments. It is by keeping the commandments that we know we are in Him. It is by keeping the commandments that the Love of God is perfected, and we know we are in Him. We are to walk as our Messiah walked, and our Messiah kept every single commandment that applied to Him. There is no other interpretation. It is easy to be a false prophet. I was once one, and I didn’t even know it. My intentions were good, but it is often said that the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Although I was once ashamed that I was a false prophet, through the atoning blood of our Messiah, I was lead to the truth, and am no longer condemned by my sin. I can now use my experience to lead others back to the true Will of God, and to the True Messiah that is plainly shown in Scripture. Which is plan to see when Scripture is left to speak for itself through the Holy Spirit!

I was led to the Messiah that truly saved me, and brought me out of the false traditions of man. I found the truth as shown in Titus

Tit 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
Tit 2:12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Tit 2:13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
Tit 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Tit 2:15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Yeshua is the grace of God bringing salvation to all people. It is through this grace that we are trained to renounce ungodliness, and wordily passions that so many false prophets teach as being so important. We are taught to live self controlled, upright, and Godly lives in the present. We are awaiting our blessed Hope, the appearing of the glory of our great savior Yehshua our Messiah (Jesus Christ). Who gave himself to redeem us from all lawlessness not to create lawlessness! To purify himself, a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works (the Law). This is what we are to declare. We are to exhort, and rebuke all other authority, in regards to these things. And let none disregard us.

We were forewarned that many false prophets would arise, and what they would do.

Mat 24:11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.
Mat 24:12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.
Mat 24:13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Mat 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. Because lawlessness (anomia) will be increased. The very teaching that so many have fallen under, the idea of no Law   But it is those who endure this false teaching of false prophets that will be saved. And the True gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations. It is then that the end will come. Until we wake up and start proclaiming the True gospel, the end will not come. The time for this is now. The awakening is happening.   It is time for the true disciples to endure and teach the Truth as seen in Holy Scripture, as shown by the Holy Spirit, and not by man.

We see in Daniel what some of these false teachings would be.

Dan 7:25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High, and shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand for a time, times, and half a time.

The false prophet will bring lawlessness, he will wear out the saints, and change the times and the Law. The Law was never meant to change. The times of the Holy days were never meant to change. It is the false prophet that will teach these lies.

We are warned in 2 Peter of these false prophets also.

2Pe 2:1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2Pe 2:2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed.

If you remember from previous articles denying the Word, is denying our Messiah. Many false prophets do not even realize that by teaching an anti Law theology they are in fact denying the Messiah, they claim as Lord, Lord   Remember the warning’s of destruction set forth by our Holy Scripture. Remember the lessons shown to us through Israel of old in their bondage for disobeying the Will of God.

We are told that many will follow their sensuality, and by them the way of Truth as shown by the Law is blasphemed.

Since iniquity is sin, why do people let these numerous false prophets cause others and themselves to sin?

2Ti 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
2Ti 4:3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
2Ti 4:4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Man’s fallen flesh will lead them to these false prophets because the flesh wants to suit its own passion. It is by allowing these false teachers to enter into our lives that we are allowing those to turn Holy Truth into mere myth. Many false prophets today use the prosperity message to led others away from sound teachings.   Through this many are coming in droves to suit there own passions and are more than willing to forgo the Law of God in their lives.

We have spoken a lot about false prophets and teachings up to this point. But what is the way or truth that will be spoken of as evil by false prophets?

Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

Dan 9:13 As it is written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities (lawlessness), and understand thy truth.

Mal 2:6 The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity.

If Yeshua (Jesus) was the Word made flesh, and the Law is the Truth, is Yeshua the Truth?

Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Joh 14:7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.

Yeshua is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. If you claim to know Yeshua (Jesus) you would have known the Father.

If Yeshua is the Truth, which is also the Word and Law, what is the Life and the way?

Pro 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,

Pro 13:13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded.
Pro 13:14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death.
Pro 13:15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.

Scripture is not written in code. The way of truth is plan, and it is found in what so many call the Law. We must stop denying who our Messiah is and teach Him from the Scripture that so plainly describes Him.

There are many false prophets in our world. And the first message they teach is that the law is no more. We have to see these teachings for what they are. Because often the most vile false prophet doesn’t even realize what he is teaching. I am speaking from experience.

As we go forth and test these new ideas in Scripture let us pray that our Father gives us His Spirit of wisdom, understanding, and truth. So we may see and walk as our Messiah walked, and be true disciples in the Name of Yeshua (Jesus). May we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the glory of our Father

Faith of the heirs defined

2010-05-18T09:59:00.000-07:00

                Faith of the heirs defined

Many people get confused by the idea that we are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. But what is the Seed of Abraham?

Isa 41:8 But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.

So Israel is described as the Seed of Abraham.

Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:27 For as many as were baptized into Christ, you put on Christ.
Gal 3:28 There cannot be Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is no male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.

If you are Messiah's then you are Abraham's Seed. We are Israel. We are heirs to the covenant.

Nevertheless, we may ask “If we are heirs of the promise of Abraham, are we to follow the Laws and commandments like Abraham did?” We can stop here and point out that whether or not Abraham had the whole Law, as given on mount Sinai, or the true interpretation of that Law through Messiah, is irrelevant. Moses wrote it for Israel, and we are Israel, who believe in Yeshua; Yeshua and all the Apostles kept it…all their lives.   With that said lets once again look to scripture for our answer.

Joh 8:39 They answered and said to Him, Abraham is our father. Jesus answered them, If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.

So what were the works of Abraham? The simple answer is, he kept the Will of God, He followed the commandments of God, the way God instructed. And this is what we are to do.

Abraham believed God and he obeyed God.

Gen 15:6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.

Gen 22:11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" And he said, "Here am I."
Gen 22:12 He said, "Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

As stated earlier whether or not Abraham had the Law in its entirety is irrelevant, for we do have the Law given to us by God in its entirety. We have the true explanation of this Law and the example of how to walk it out in our Messiah. This is the example of Abraham: that we keep, and walk in the Will of our God

It is here that I believe we should take some time to go over another concept that has been grossly misunderstood, and misrepresented. What is faith? We can speak for days on the different concepts of Faith and how to show it. But instead why don’t we put aside all the nonsense of men, and see what our Bible has to say about the subject.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

So we have to ask our selves what is it we hope for? Many use the idea of faith to attempt to do away with the Will of God in our lives.   And if this is what ones’ hope is for, it is what one will find. But if our hope is for Salvation we are called to know and follow the Will of God. This takes a whole different path doesn't it? So lets see what faith is, as defined by hoping in the Will of God.

1Jn 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. And everyone who loves Him who begets also loves him who has been born of Him.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, whenever we love God and keep His commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.
1Jn 5:4 For everything that has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.

Faith, as defined by scripture, in an open sense, is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The further definition of what the faith of a believer and follower of our Messiah is, can be found in 1 john 5:1-4. Everyone who believes in Messiah is born of God, and whoever is born of God loves his fellow man. To show love we must keep the commandments of God, which are not burdensome. It is by this we overcome the world, and have victory. This is our Faith defined.

   The idea that faith somehow does away with the Will of God (Law, Law of Moses, Torah) simply does not come form Scripture. There are a few examples in Scripture that can be taken grossly out of context, and be used to create contradictions in Scripture that do not exist. But this is where the false religions of man are born from. It is time to put all of our nature, traditions, and religion aside and seek the Truth of Scripture in Scripture.

   So now that we have defined, faith lets take a look at another misunderstood and misrepresented idea. What is Works?

Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in Heaven.

   Works are the light that shines before men to glorify our Father who is in Heaven. Works are following the example of our Messiah. Works, is the Love of God, and the love of man. Works is the Law moving through our individual lives. It is how we show the world the Love of our Creator. Our works are what we are judged by, both in the eyes of God and man. It is by works (fruit) that we know false prophets. It is by works (fruit) that we know wolves in sheep clothing. And it is by Works that our reward will be given.

Rev 22:12 And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each according as his work is.

   If Letting our light shine is good works, which earns our rewards. What is the light that we show before man? You may have been wondering where is the connection between faith, works, and the Law? So lets look to Scripture to find these answer’s as well

Pro 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

   The light we are to show in the world is the Word (Torah, Law, Gods Will). The light we are to show is the Messiah, for our Messiah is the Word. To deny the Word, is to deny the Messiah.

Joh 8:12 Then Jesus spoke again to them, saying, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

   And what is Light?

   So why did Yeshua consider himself to be the light if the light is the Law (Torah, Will of God)?

Joh 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and tabernacled among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and of truth.

      The Word was made flesh this is why denying the Word is denying the Messiah   I know this seems harsh but it really isn’t, and this Truth must be seen. The Light is the Law, the Word, our Messiah. Our Messiah is the living Word, the living Torah, the Living Law. He did not do away with the Law, because he is the Law. Our Messiah did not come into this world to do away with himself, or to somehow make himself irrelevant

   For those who are uncomfortable with this idea it may help to remember the idea of true discipleship.

1Jn 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.


The Him in Scripture is our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). If you are uncomfortable with the truths presented here, simply look at our Messiahs life. See how he walked, and simply imitate Him. And you will do well indeed.

   So now that we have defined faith I think the next logical question is how do we perfect our faith?

   Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Do you see how faith worked with his works, and from the works faith was made complete?
Jas 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God.
Jas 2:24 You see then how a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Faith is made perfect by works and not by faith alone. It is through the keeping of Gods commandments that we find ourselves growing closer in our walk with our Messiah. It is through keeping the Will of
God, and true discipleship, that we are found nearer to our God.

So Lets once again look at the relationship between faith and works.

Jas 2:17 Even so, if it does not have works, faith is dead, being by itself.,

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

          We must come to the revelation that our works are not simply how we treat others. It isn't going to church, or speaking with our lips. Our works are living in and through the Word. Our works are defined in what many would call the Law. Our Works are defined in the word, Love. Which is a summarization of the greatest two commandments, to Love God above all else, and Love our neighbor as ourselves. The two greatest commandments are a further summarization of the Big 10, which so many are familiar with. And the 10 commandments are a summarization of the entire Torah ( Law). These are our works defined, not by man, but by God

So how do we show our faith? Many people have asked this question. Can we show it by the type of clothing we wear? Or maybe it is seen if we wear a really big Gold cross around our neck? Some people are even offended at the idea that we are supposed to show our faith. Some think that showing our faith is flaunting it, and trying to be self righteous. And yes there are some out there that wear certain cloths and have big necklaces and really try to show off their religion. But there is a big difference in showing of your religion and walking in our faith. This is where knowing the Torah (Law, Will of God) comes in handy. So to seek these Truths lets see what our Scripture holds.

Jas 2:18 But someone will say, You have faith and I have works. Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

We are to show our faith by our works. It is only through our works that our faith is seen. Anyone can wear a cross necklace. Anyone can join a church. But only a true disciple of our Messiah is going to follow his example and learn to walk, and live in the Will of God.

So is it even possible for works to please God without faith? And before you answer, go back and look at how faith is defined in Scripture for a believer, follower, and disciple of our Messiah. Lets take a few moments and really think about faith defined. And when we are done lets look to Scripture for our answer.

Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

It is not possible to have faith without works, it is simply not possible to have faith, see all that our God has created, and to see all that our Messiah went through, without being obedient. However it is possible to have works without faith, but these works are not the works of God, and they are not founded in his will, so they will bear no-good fruit. And as such, God will not accept them as works to Him, but work’s to the world, and of inequity. Our faith is shown through our works. The greater ones’ faith, the greater are ones works through obedience. Salvation is given by faith, and through grace. And Grace is evidence of our Gods love for us. Our obedience is a result of our faith, and proven by our works. Which in turn is proof of our Love of our God    Remember all works are meant to glorify our God

   I pray that we be given eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change as we go forth to put these perspectives to the test of Scripture, and seek the Truth of God. And in this Truth may we find the true peace of God in our lives.

When did the commandments change?

2010-05-10T11:44:00.000-07:00

When did the commandments change?

We know that in the past the commandments were there and valid. I do not think that many people will dispute this fact. But many believe that sometime after Yeshua’s death and resurrection they changed. It was no longer about the Will of God but, doing whatever we want as long as we believe, love Him, and others. But is this really the case? If it is, wouldn’t it stand to reason that if the commandments were changed, fulfilled, or done away with, that this is how it will be from now on? Will Yeshua have the same commandments during his reign when he returns? Lets look to scripture and see.

Isa 2:2 It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,
Isa 2:3 and many peoples shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
Isa 2:4 He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

Here in this very prophecy of our Lords return, and his reign. (Isa 2:3 and many peoples shall come, and say: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths. For out of Zion shall go the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.) So what is this Law being spoken of here. Some simply think it will be the command of the King. And while they are right they should know that these will not be new commands. They are the same that we have had from the beginning. The Law here is an English translation of the Hebrew word “Torah.” Don’t take my word for it, check for yourselves. So why would our Messiah do away with the Law if it is prophesied that he will teach us His ways, so we can walk in His paths “the Torah,” and after His second coming and during His Millennial reign. Also, it may be good to point out here that the Law going forth will not just be his voice or speaking, as I have heard and taught it myself in the past. For the Scripture also states, that along with the Law, the Word will also go forth.

We know that the Law as many call it, was valid in the Past, we know that the Law will be valid in the future, so why do we think that it isn’t valid now? How many of us have really pondered this question? I know I never did. I was happy in my knowledge that the Law (Will of God, Torah, Pentateuch) was not meant for me, and was either fulfilled or done away with. And I never wanted to see the truth of the matter. I never sought the truth as it pertained to the Law. Quite simply because I didn’t want the true Will of God in my life. I liked the idea that I wasn’t really held accountable for my sins. I liked not having to worship God in His way. I liked the illusion that I had control over my life, I was terribly wrong. And to any out there that I taught these ideas too in the past that read this article, all I can do is apologize for my mistakes. I have been asked: “Why would you want to follow the Law when we can simply live under grace?” And the answer is simple, because that is what my God asks of me. It isn’t about me or what I want! And, I also point out that they should take a better look at how grace is defined in Scripture. We have to be willing to put aside our own pride, and stop pondering these questions on our own. The fact of the matter is we have instruction to lead us in Gods way, and we have the Holy Spirit to guide us through these very Scriptures.

So many would try and do away with the Will of God in their lives. They would rather listen to flawed men than seek Divine Truth. I have been given so many excuses in my life, as to why we do not need the Will of God. It is scary just how easy it is to justify in our hearts, not following the Will of God. And to say that we no longer need the Law is doing this very thing. It is through the Law (Torah) that we know God. It is through the Law (Torah) that we know sin. And without it we cannot know either. We are ships crashing in a storm being tossed from one side to the other. We must seek shelter in the storm, and the only real shelter to be found is in the Word of God.

Now lets look at the past. Because it is the belief held by many that the Will of God changed from the beginning, to mount Sinai. So why couldn’t his will change again? But did the Will of God ever change? Did even Abraham already have the Law and the Commandments, or was the Law a new invention at mount Sinai? Once again to find our answer before we start speculating on our own, lets look to Scripture.

Gen 26:4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,
Gen 26:5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

Here we see that according to our Scripture Abraham did in fact have the Will of God. (Gen 26:5 because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws." ). Were they in the complete form as given on Mount Sinai? That we do not know, but we know that His Will didn’t change. We know that there were charges, commandments, statues, and Laws given to him. So we know the Law (Torah, God’s Will) predates mount Sinai. We also know that not even sacrifice was only given to us by God on Mount Sinai. (Gen 4:3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground,
Gen 4:4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering,)

Now begs the question who taught Cain and able to sacrifice to God? Who taught Abraham what was right in the sight of God? Who taught the Israelites how to worship God? Who taught the world Love through our Messiah Yeshua? In all cases it is God, the Father, the creator of all creation, the God of Abraham, Jacob, and Isaac, The God of Israel. It may also be helpful to remember, to put all things in their proper perspective. The Law was given at the same time as the history of the world was given. God gave Moses the History that is the Torah (first five books, Pentateuch), and along with this History he gave us his Will, through His Law. Why do we intend to change our Gods Will, when He is the one who gives it to us? That is the way it was in the beginning, now, and in the future. We must let our own natures be silenced and follow God, His way, not our own. This has been said before and it will be said again. GOD does not change, not his mind, not His Will, not His Plans. They have been the same from the beginning and they will continue for ever. We must stop trying to change our God and accept that we are the ones in need of change. God does not change to fit us. We change to follow Him.

Now comes the idea that all traditions are good and we must simply follow them. So we need to ask ourselves. Can we be corrupted or spoiled by mans philosophy, tradition, and principles of the world?

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

We must beware of any deceit or tradition that teaches us to walk in any way that is contrary to how our Master walked. Some would even accuse me of bringing some new deceitful philosophy with these articles. And in response to these accusations, all I ask is that you put these ideas to the test of Scripture. Not one passage taken out of context, not one book, but the whole of Scripture. Look to how our Messiah walked. Did our Messiah do away with any of God’s Will (Torah)? Of course not. When presented with a challenge, or problem, where did our Messiah get his answers? They came from the Torah, don’t take my word for it look for yourself. Really look at how our Messiah walked, do a study of true discipleship. Step away from vain teachings of deceit, and false traditions of man to justify sin. And look to God for your answers. Go to Scripture in prayer! Put all things to the test of Scripture. Not just these writings, but all writings of men. I do not claim to have a patent on truth. As a matter of fact I am just as wrong on many things as anyone else. Never take, any mans word for anything, without putting it to the test in Scripture, and through prayer. We must guard our hearts. There are false traditions of men in this world. Just because one comes claiming to be a man of God be weary for he may be a wolf in sheep clothing. If anyone brings a gospel that is not congruent with scripture, turn and flee from it. When a man tells you that we are to be rich with worldly possession because that is what is needed to be happy flee from it. If one brings a gospel that teaches you to walk in any way outside of the example set for us by our Messiah flee from it. Take the time to read and see how our Messiah truly walked on this earth, and when we go forth in study of Scripture we must keep this in mind for a true prospective, and context. The idea that our Messiah only walked in Gods Law (Torah, God's Will) before his crucifiction, simple does not hold water when put under the scrutiny of Scripture. The Law wasnt done away with after the resurrection. In Acts 1:1-4, Yeshua taught His Apostles about the Kingdom of God and not one place in Acts do the Apostles, including Paul, say the Law is done away with. Just as we have no right to change our God or His Will, we have no right to change our Messiah.

In conclusion The Law (Torah) has been with us since we were created. God instructs His people in His ways. It was this way for Adam, Abraham, Moses, and us today. It hasn’t changed. There is no indication in Scripture to point that this has not ever been the case. The Law (Torah, Will of God) does not change. We are the ones that change. We are to become closer in relationship with our God. That is the purpose of the Law (Torah, Will of God) in our lives. So we can learn His teachings, His way. So we can walk in a covenant relationship once again. So we can come in the presence of our God without being destroyed. It shows us sin so we can remove it from our lives to be closer to Him. We know through Scripture that the Will was there in the beginning. And our Father taught us his Will throughout time. We also know that the Will of God will be just as valid in the future as it was on Mount Sinai. So why in our arrogance do we seek to change the Will of God and say it isn’t valid now?

The council in Jerusalem acknowledged the foundation of the Law (Torah) when James stated that Moses was preached and read in the synagogues on every Sabbath (Act 15:19 Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, Act 15:20 but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. Act 15:21 For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues." ) It is stated here that the new converts first had to be taught to refrain from the things that will break a covenant relationship with God. And immediately continues by stating that the Law of Moses (Torah, Law, Will of God) is taught every Sabbath in the synagogues. James believed that gentile followers of the Master would naturally become imitators of Messiah as they heard and observed the Torah (Law, Will of God) week after week. It was a process of growth. It wasn’t meant to happen over night. And now 2,000 years later it is the mission of many including this ministry to recover the truth found in the Torah (Law, Will of God) to become imitators of Yeshua our Messiah as well. To get back to the roots of our faith, and become true disciples of Yeshua our Messiah.

As always I hope, this article has helped us all in some way to gain a closer walk with our Messiah. I pray that as we go forth to put these ideas to the test, in Scripture, that we are given eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the Glory of Yeshua our Messiah.

HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE KNOW HIM?

2010-05-04T16:23:00.000-07:00

HOW DO WE KNOW IF WE KNOW HIM?

1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.
1Jn 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.

   So many times throughout my spiritual walk, I would stop and question myself. I always needed to know, did I really know God? Was I truly living the life he wanted me to live? And for much of my walk in faith the answer was no. I would justify my actions, traditions, and beliefs. I really had very little knowledge of whom and what God is. I had no real knowledge of what God wanted through my life and how I was to give it to him. As with many I think my journey began with a simple fear of Hell. I knew I needed to be saved so I could go to heaven. I went to a few different churches, tried to emulate what I saw, and really had no clue as to what the Will of God was for my life. But as I started to be awakened to Gods truth I really started studying the Holy Scripture. And as I have written in past articles, it changed everything. This week I want to go through one of those passages that really helped me, to come to an understanding of what God wants from us. First, we need to try and gain a true understanding of whom and what our God is, and what he wants from us. I hear so many believers saying that they feel lost. They are not sure if they even really know God. Thankfully God has given us a way to check and see if we know him. 1John 2:3-6 really isn’t cryptic on the subject, and is really quit to the point. 1John 2:3 plainly says (1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments. ) If we want to find out if we know the One True God then all we have to do is ask ourselves. Are we keeping his commandments? So what are his commandments? Where are they written? I once justified not keeping the Will of God in my life by grossly over simplifying this verse, and so many others like it. I would say that keeping his commandment is just following the New Testament. I didn’t understand that this could not have been the case. The simplest way to prove this idea is to remind all of us that the New Testament, for the most part was not written yet. And quite frankly if we truly followed the New Testament then wouldn’t we follow verses like this that plainly state that if we know God then we will keep His commandments! Let me assure you that the “He” spoken of in this passage is not your Pastor, Priest, Rabbi, Shaman, Church, or Synagogue. It is the Commandments of the One True God!

The disturbing thing about the passage of 1John 2:3-6 I think, is the next verse. (1Jn 2:4 He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.) So as easy as it would be to start pointing the finger with this verse, lets all try and keep from it. Instead, let us remember the words of Yeshua

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that you may not be judged.
Mat 7:2 For with whatever judgment you judge, you shall be judged; and with whatever measure you measure out, it shall be measured to you again.
Mat 7:3 And why do you look on the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not consider the beam that is in your own eye?
Mat 7:4 Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull the splinter out of your eye; and, behold, a beam is in your own eye?
Mat 7:5 Hypocrite! First cast the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to cast the splinter out of your brother's eye.

Luke 6:41 And why do you look at the splinter that is in your brother's eye, but do not see the beam that is in your own eye?
Luke 6:42 Or how can you say to your brother, Brother, let me pull out the splinter in your eye, when you yourself do not see the beam that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First cast out the beam out of your own eye, and then you shall see clearly to pull out the splinter that is in your brother's eye.

So let us look to removing the beam form our own eyes. If we would say to others that we know and follow Yeshua, and are Disciples of Yeshua. But do not keep his commandments. Doesn’t this fact make us liars? According to Scripture the answer is emphatically yes! So much of the world has refused to acknowledge the existence, let alone the belief, in the One True God and his only begotten Son. And by presenting ourselves as liars and hypocrites, all we are representing, are lies, not Yeshua our Messiah. We must stop giving all the followers of our enemy ammunition by perpetuating these lies in our lives. (1Jn 2:4 He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.) We must stop and truly seek the Truth. We must study in prayer and follow the written Will of our Father without justification for our own flesh. We must follow what is written, and not the ideas and justifications found in fleshly interpretations to edify our fallen nature.

   Let us instead try to gain a true understanding of whom our God is and What His true Will is. We must be as stated in John 2:5 (But whoever keeps His Word, truly in this one the love of God is perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.) We cannot be the true representatives of God in this fallen world, without knowing, acknowledging, and keeping the commandments of God. But by keeping his word not only is the Love of God perfected in us, but we can be certain, that without a doubt we know God, and are living in HIM. The way to know if we know God and are living within His Will, is to keep his commandments. And this is the only way!

1Jn 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.

If we claim to indeed be the Disciples of Yeshua, we must walk as he walked. No where does this say that only after Yeshua’s death and resurrection did we truly find out how to walk. It plainly sates to walk as He walked. Here we must gain a better understanding of what discipleship truly means. Discipleship is following ones master in all that he is. We are to emulate our Messiah in all things. For those of us out there, who are still trying to hold to the justification of sin, found in the idea that the Law is no longer important in our life, need’s only to look at this verse. Go to the Gospels and see how our Messiah walked. Which part of the Law did he not keep? Let me remind us all that if Yeshua had broken even the least of the commandments, and taught others to do so, he could not have been our Messiah. He would not have been the perfect sinless sacrifice that was needed of the second Passover lamb. But thankfully Yeshua was and in fact is our Messiah. He did not break or do away with any part of the Law. For in his own words (Mat 5:17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.
Mat 5:18 For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Therefore whoever shall relax one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.)

It is time for us all to wake up and start to understand who our Messiah is, and how he walked!   (1Jn 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.)

Should Believers do what is right in our own eyes and follow after our own heart? Or should we just simply follow the Will of our Creator?

Deu 12:8. You shall not do according to all that we do hear today, each doing whatever is right in his own eyes.

We need to stop trying to justify and do what -ever is right in our own eyes and truly seek the Will of God. If we follow our own hearts or the hearts of other men, we will be lead astray every time. We must seek and follow our One True God.

Ecc 11:9 Rejoice, in your youth, young man; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

Yes, God does allow us to walk in the ways of our heat. I believe with the hope that we will one day remove our fallen nature, and our own desires, and replace them with the Spirit of God through His Will. But know that when we follow after and seek the foolishness of our fallen flesh, we will be brought into judgment. There is a judgment for those who deny the Will of God in there lives. No matter how much they profess with their lips. I was once one of these teachers. I knew little of our One True God, and even less of what His Will was for my life. I professed daily with my lips, yet my heart knew Him not.

Mat 7:21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord! Lord! shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

Not everyone who simply says Lord! Lord! Shall enter the kingdom, only those who do the Will of the Father. Only those who acknowledge the Will of God and follow can truly know Yeshua. Many will say they know him. They will even perform signs and wonders. Yet they did not acknowledge and keep His Will, therefore they never truly knew him. We must ask our selves do we truly know Him? (1Jn 2:3 And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments.) We must stop the justifications of not following the Will of God and simply submit to His Will. This is the only way we can ever truly know Yeshua our Messiah! We can no longer seek after our own hearts and desires.

In justifying unfortunately we tend to add to and take away from Holy Scripture. So the next question is. Should we be careful not to add to or take away from Gods Commandments? (Deu 12:32 All the things I command you, be careful to do it. You shall not add to it, nor take away from it.) Some over simplify this, and other verses like it, by saying that they are only speaking of the adding to and taking away of books. But this is not what this verse is saying. It is speaking of adding to and taking away from the Will of God. The very thing that many say Yeshua our Messiah did. But if he did in fact do away with Gods Will, then he would have broken this most basic commandment, and could not have been our Messiah! No where did Yeshua ever do away with or break any of the Commandments. He did teach their true meaning, and taught us the true observance of them. We are commanded to observe and do the Word of God the way he tells us to. We are to Worship our Father the way he commands us too, not in our own way. We are to follow His Will the way he sets forth not in our way. Because it is not nor has it ever been about us, it is about our Creator. It is His story, not ours, we are just characters in it. We must be careful when living our lives not to fall under the false traditions of man.   the traditions that in fact add to and do away with the Will of God! (Deu 4:2 You shall not add to the Word which I command you, neither shall you take away from it, so that you may keep the commands of your God which I command you.)

   In conclusion we must know and acknowledge the Will of God in our lives. We must seek His Truth His way. We cannot let the false traditions of man get in the way of our true walk of Faith. It is time for us all to awaken to the truth found in Holy Scripture and stop the justifications. Justification of a fact does not change the fact. If we are to know God, we must know him his way. And his way is found in His commandments. We cannot seek God in our own way for our way is flawed. In Love this is written and it is my hope that it is in Love that it will be received. As we go forth in study let us pray for guidance, understanding, knowledge, and truth form our Fathers Holy Spirit. Let us seek Gods truth in Gods way. And may we be given eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the Glory of Yeshua our Messiah.

The Sword

2010-04-27T10:08:00.001-07:00

The Sword

Mat 10:34   Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.

   Did Yeshua state that receiving the sword of truth would bring peace? I once believed so, and as long as I followed Jesus I would have peace in my life. I would never have to be burdened with anything again. I expected that as long as I was doing what I thought was right by Jesus then no one would really bother me. I was wrong, the simple truth is, being a true disciple and follower of Yeshua, is going to cause trouble in this world. For Yeshua did not come to bring peace to this world in its fallen state, not peace, but a sword. Being a disciple of our Messiah will bring trouble while in this earth. Lets take a look in Matthew 10:34-38.

Mat 10:34   Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
Mat 10:35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Mat 10:36 And a person's enemies will be those of his own household.
Mat 10:37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
Mat 10:38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

   What is this sword spoken of? Is it a mighty blade like excalibur of pagan legend? Of course not, this is the sword of truth. It is the sword of righteousness that can only be found in truth. It is the sword of the Spirit   (Eph 6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,) The sword is the Word of God   This is not a popular sword in this fallen world and there is nothing that the fallen nature of man fears most, it is truth, it is righteousness, it is grace, salvation, anger, life, and death.   It is the Will of our Creator!

   The sword of truth can seem from the outside to be a great burden. It holds us and other’s accountable for our actions. It can seem quite frightening at times. But we must remember that it isn’t the sword that causes misunderstandings, fighting, and even wars. It is the opposition to the truth, the Will of God, that breeds these reactions in our fallen nature. Yeshua never promised that the sword of the word of God would bring peace in this fallen world. Yeshua stated the exact opposite of this idea. He let us know that it is by the sword that is the Word of God. We are to judge our actions. He goes on to paint a true picture of how others will view those who chose to follow the Will of God in its entirety. It sets men against their father’s, daughters against mothers. It creates rifts in entire households. Following and trusting in the Will of God will cause tension in your life. Because not all, wish to accept this Will in their life. Keeping to the Will of God in our lives will provoke those who do not wish to even know the true Will of God to jealousy. They will begin to see faults in their traditions, theologies, and everyday lives. They will accuse you of judging them by your actions. And seek to stop what they feel are judgments by trying to pervert our understanding of Scripture. We are to seek the Truth of Scripture which is the Will of our Creator not mans approval.

   Through the Truth that is the Will of God we are taught to put all things below our Creator. We must put the Love of our God over our families, friends, and especially our own selves. Yeshua warns us that whoever loves even the closest member of his earthly family above our Messiah is not worthy of our Messiah. For most of my life I could not have been thought to have kept to this in my life. Sure my lips said that I did, but when it came time to walk, or show my faith, it was my true weakness that always showed through   We are to take up our cross and walk with our Messiah. Sure he suffered for us but because of that, we must be willing to suffer for HIM

When we decide to accept the Sword that is the Word of God, and follow the Will of God it conveys in our lives, others will attack us   The closer to our Messiah we become the harder the attacks are.

   Lets have a look at what the sword does to people. And as with all things lets take our own speculations, and pondering out of the equation and look to Holy Scripture to find our answers.

Luk 2:35 (yea, a sword shall pierce through your own soul also), so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.

Heb 4:12 For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

   The Sword that is the Word of God shows what is in our true heart of hearts. It cuts through the praising with the lips and the false actions preformed by many to show the truth of the heart. That is why Scripture is so important in our lives. It gives us the ability to know and walk in the true Will of our Creator. And it allows us to get passed our fallen nature. The nature that, goes against the true Will of God, shows us when we are living for our selves, and when we are living for the One True God     It is written that only God can know the true heart of man, but through grace the Word shows us our true hearts and allows us to change. It is through the truth found in the Word of God that we can take up our crucifix and follow our Messiah, and by doing so become that mirror image we are trying to change into, through true discipleship     This is why our fallen nature is so against the sword for it takes away the justifications of fact and simply reveals the fact of the matter through the knowledge of the Will of God   The sword shows our true thoughts, and intents of our true hearts.

   What did, Yeshua state would happen if we follow his Commandments and walk in His path? I once had this all wrong as I stated at the beginning of this article. I thought from living in the Bible belt that if you followed Yeshua you would be loved and revered by men. And to be honest as long as I only kept half of the truth not much bad really happened. I was quite happy in the world, my friends, neighbors, and families were content with the level of faith that I had. Because my walking faith didn’t contrast the way, they lived their lives. And this was the first clue I had something very wrong

Mar 13:13 And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

   This is one of those times that the sword can show us the truth in our hearts. I was not hated by anyone that I knew of. I was well accepted even by those who probably didn’t like me all that much. But the fact is I looked and acted so much like the world that I was accepted by it. It wasn’t until I started to really understand what discipleship meant, and by this I started to follow the Will of God in all that I could, did I really start to see anger, persecution, and in some cases even hate. When you live in the world yet not apart of the world, those in the world see you as an outsider. You will be called overly zealous as if this is an insult. You will be told a million times why your wrong for following the Will of God, and yet be given little proof. You will be asked to leave churches, and assemblies. Even your closest family and friends will turn from you, because they do not want to know the True Will of God. Most do not want to be held accountable, it is the ignorance is bliss argument. If you get the chance the next time you, or someone you know gets a speeding ticket tell them to simply let the judge know they didn’t know they couldn’t speed in that area and see how it works out. If this argument doesn’t stand up in a court of law today, what makes us believe it will stand on judgment day? But those who accept the Will of God, and are persecuted for it (Grace) that shall endure unto the end, and truly be saved

   What does it mean to endure? Sure endurance is easy enough to define in the world.    The dictionary defines it as ( en-dur-ance :noun
1.the fact or power of enduring or bearing pain, hardships, etc.
2.the ability or strength to continue or last, esp. despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina: He has amazing physical endurance.
3.lasting quality; duration: His friendships have little endurance.
4.something endured, as a hardship; trial.)

The type of endurance changes depending on the situation though. If you are running a race endurance is fighting through the exhaustion to finish right? If you are taking a test, it is doing the best you can through to the end. But we are not speaking of the simple endurance of the world. We are seeking the endurance as found in Scripture So let’s once again look to scripture to find our answer.

Rev 14:12 Here is endurance of the saints: here are those keeping the commands of God, and the faith of Jesus.'

The endurance we seek is found in the Word of God. It is the keeping of the Commandments of God, and Faith of Yeshua. Here are the two things that are needed to endure, the Commandments of God, and the faith of Yeshua. You see we can’t have one without the other, keeping the commandments is accepting Yeshua as Messiah, and breed’s faith in Yeshua. Not the Law without faith   And not faith without the Law   I believe James showed this best when he said :

Jas 2:17 Even so, if it does not have works, faith is dead, being by itself.
Jas 2:18 But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith from my works.

   Faith without works is dead. The Law and Commandments show us the works. It shows us what sin is, how to remove sin, and The Will of God for our lives on this earth   If you have faith you have works, if you have works you have faith   We need both halves. One of my favorite quotes from outside of our Bible is “Beware of half truths. You may have gotten hold of the wrong half.” Author unknown.   And though this is a great quote it is wrong, especially when dealing with scripture. Because if we only accept half of the truth in scripture it doesn’t matter which half we grasp we will be wrong   It doesn’t matter which half you have, because the fact is if you only have half you are wrong   In order to endure what our Messiah plainly states will come, once we fully accept him in our lives, we must keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Yeshua

   And once again I hope that we can all read this with a prayerful heart and with an expectation to change. As we go forth to study this week, I pray that we can all be granted the fruits of the Spirit to know, understand, and teach the gospel to the nations. May we be Given Wisdom, understanding, Patience and strength. And be given eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the Glory of our Creator in the name of Yeshua our Messiah. Amen!

Did Yeshua or Paul abolish the Law?

2010-04-19T11:29:00.000-07:00

Did Yeshua abolish or remove any commandments from his Law? And what happens if we teach and act like he did?

"Mat 5:17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.
Mat 5:18 For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Therefore whoever shall relax one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven."

   Many religions, and denominations teach that Yeshau (Jesus) our Messiah did away with the Law. I was at one time one of these teachers. I was lead to believe and even taught others this theology born from mans fallen nature. And to be honest, I never gave Scriptures like Matthew chapter five through seven a chance to sink in. When I read them I would scan over the Scriptures because someone else had already given me the meaning of these verses so I didn’t need to waste my time focusing on them. Do you ever end up having this same problem? We read and scan over the Bible instead of study it. Sometimes it was almost like I needed to get the reading or good deed out of the way, so I could get back to my life. I felt as if the reading of Scripture was a chore, and I needed to get through it as fast as possible. I read Matthew 5:17 many times and never got past the word fulfilled. I fell into the traditional view that this is where Matthew 5 ended. Because it obviously says fulfilled, that means it was finished right? But thankfully I was lead away from the traditional thinking behind these scriptures and really read what was being said, and finally started to put them in context with the rest of our Holy Bible. Here Yeshua our Messiah himself is teaching. ( Mat 5:17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.) I used to read this and think it said I did not come to destroy the law but to do away with it. Right of the bat I had a problem. Because it makes Yehsua’s teaching's contradictory. I did not come to destroy, but to destroy? It doesn’t add up.   But as I said before I would stop there and not go any further in the verse. And it is the next two verses that explain what he is speaking of. The next verse states ( Mat 5:18 For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled. ) Till Heaven and Earth pass away. As I look around I still see heaven and earth, so if Heaven and earth are still around what is Yeshua speaking of?

(Rev 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
Rev 21:2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.
Rev 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.")

Yeshua is speaking of the finial fulfillment of all things. Contrary to popular belief. A belief I once held by the way. All things were not fulfilled on the Cross. The final restoration did not happen on the Cross, but an integral part of the restoration that was Started immediately after the Fall of man. It is not until the final restoration of the New Heaven and the New Earth that all will be fulfilled. And even then God’s will for us will not change. The change isn’t in God it is in men!!!   Now Yeshua continues in this verse and sates very plainly that not one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled (New Heaven and New Earth).

And in the very next verse we are given a warning (Mat 5:19 Therefore whoever shall break one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.) Whoever shall break the least of the commandments shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven. We really need to take this to heart. Because if all sin is equal outside of Blasphemy (out right denial of God) then how are we to know which is the least of these commandments? But the warning continues with (and teach men so), this is one of those scripture that when I finally read it in context made me sit up and think. How many theologies and doctrines of the religious system I was in, did I use to teach this very thing? How much of what I was teaching led others away from the Will of God. I implore all those reading this to sit back and do the same with a prayerful heart.

Right after the warning We are given Hope. For those of us who do follow the Will of God in our lives and teach other to do so also will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. I so long to hear my Fathers voice. And when I hear it, I am trying to make sure He is pleased with me and that I could have the great honor of being called a faithful servant of the Lord our God. This is a simple statement on how to accomplish this very thing. And as with all other scripture I intend to do everything in my power to make it a reality in my life. How about you?

Now it is time to address the next question. Did Paul abolish or remove any commandment from the Law? (Rom 3:31 Do we then make the Law void through faith? Let it not be! But we establish the Law. ) So many point to Paul as I once did. When we in our nature try to do away with the Will of God in our lives. We do not want to be under the rule of anyone, even if that one is our creator. It is our fallen nature to rail against the Will of our God. With that said we have to ask ourselves if Paul really taught that the Law was no more how do we explain verses like Roman 3:31 and so many others like it?   So lets ask the question if Paul didn’t do away with the Law then how did he feel about it. And to get our answer, as with all things we must go to scripture. (Rom 7:7 What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet." ) Here Paul explain as in the earlier post that the Law defines what is Sin. (Rom 7:12 So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.) Here Paul sates plainly that the Law is Holy righteous and Good. ( Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.)
Now Paul is teaching that the Law is Spiritual, but we are the ones of the flesh and sold under sin. In other words the Law (Will of God, Definition of Sin, Torah) is not the problem our sinful flesh is the problem. We seem to always want to blame God. We justify our own actions and in doing so do everything imaginable to remove the Will of God from our lives. In order to grow and gain a closer Spiritual walk with our Messiah we need to acknowledge this in our lives and die to our carnal self daily . (Gal 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.) If we bear one another's burdens then we are living in the Law.
( Rom 7:16 Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. ) Here Paul is in agreement with the Law because the Law is against the carnal flesh. Paul is teaching the basics of the Law. Just as our Messiah did in order to lead us to a fuller understanding and observance of the Law.

I used to ignore these Passages and the many others like them in scripture. Such as (Acts 21:20-24; 24:14-17; 25:8; 26:22-23; 28:17-20 and Psalm 100:5; 103:17-18; Mal. 4:1-6; Mt. 5:17-19; 7:12; 19:17; Lk. 10:26; 16:17, 29; 1st Cor. 7:17-19; 11:1-2; Rom. 3:31; 7:7, 12, 14, 16, 22, 25; 8:7; 2nd Thess. 2:15? (traditions/customs may equal the Law; see Acts 6:13; 15:1, 5; 26:3; 28:17); James 2:8-11; 4:11-12; 1st Jn. 3:4; 5:3; 2nd Jn. 1:6; Rev. 12:17; 14:12.)

I would use some traditional view to justify what I was plainly reading. I would say “well that is what it says here, but over here I think it says something else, and that’s the one I'm going to go with”. We cannot continue to gain our understanding in this manor. We need to read scripture for what it is saying. We have to stop implanting our own theologies and wills into the Word of God. We must stop trying to prove our points and simply seek the truth in Scripture. We must look at scripture with an understanding that there are no contradictions. Paul did not say all of these wonderful things about the Law, and following it in our lives, to just in the next chapter of the book contradict everything he had said earlier!

So now we can ask the question, if Paul did feel that the Law was to be kept did he actually follow it? So lets once again look to scripture for our answer

Act 21:21 and they have been told about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or walk according to our customs.
Act 21:22 What then is to be done? They will certainly hear that you have come.
Act 21:23 Do therefore what we tell you. We have four men who are under a vow;
Act 21:24 take these men and purify yourself along with them and pay their expenses, so that they may shave their heads. Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law.

Here we see an example in scripture of the very same problem many have today. People wondering if Paul did in fact keep the commandments? Many according to scripture falsely believed that Paul’s teaching’s were against the Will of God (His Law, Torah, Commandments). Yet we must really look at this scripture. Pay close attention, it sates plainly that the accusations of Paul not keeping the commandments, and his teaching others to also break the Law were false. Paul kept the commandments, and he taught others to do so. This is after the death burial and resurrection of our Messiah. This is after the events of the cross. Here Paul goes to James for advice.   Just as today many people were under the false impression that Paul’s Gospel was against the Law. And to prove that he, and his teachings were not against the Law. He agrees to take part in what is believed to be the Nazzarite Vow. He did this to show (“Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law”. ) Did Paul follow and teach others to keep the Law? YES He Did!!! This is the context we have to put all of Paul’s writings in. Once we look at these simple and plain truths we can then go on to put the rest of his writings in the proper context. Not just in context of the verses around them, or in the Chapter it is in, or in the Letter it is in. But in the Context of all other writings inspired by the Holy Spirit form Genesis to Revelation. We need to begin to study scripture in its entirety instead of acting as if 70% of our Holy scripture doesn’t apply to us.

I had to come to an understanding that was very hard to admit. I was wrong, and worse I was leading others astray. This was not an easy thing to do. Thankfully I was not alone, I was lead to this revelation through the Holy Spirit, Yeshua was with me the whole way. I had to realize that to teach that the Law was done away with, meant that only one of the following possibilities were correct.

1.Yehusa was wrong

2. Yeshua Lied

3. God changed his mind

4. Maybe in my carnal nature I have something wrong.

When faced with a contradiction in scripture this is the process I have to look at. And every time I have found that the problem has lied with me. God is not wrong! God does not Lie! God does not change his mind! We are always 100% of the time the problem. Once I could understand these simple truths the Bible opened up to me in ways I never imagined were possible. As Always I pray that we can all go forth and seek the truth in God’s word with eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for the Glory of Yeshua our Messiah.

IF WE LOVE GOD, WHAT DOES HE WANT US TO DO?

2010-04-12T12:14:00.000-07:00

IF WE LOVE GOD, WHAT DOES HE WANT US TO DO?
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

So many ask what are we supposed to do after Salvation by grace? How do we show God we Love him? How do we show Yeshua our Love? Yet few actually consult Scripture on this matter. Most simply ask what ever person they feel is righteous enough to know. Such as a Pastor, Priest, or Rabbi. Yet as with most things if we would take the time to consult the Word of God in Prayer then we would find our answers. Now for most the Truth found in the answers provided by Scripture aren’t always easy for mans selfish, and prideful nature to take. Here is a classic example. ( Joh 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments. ) It is hard for men who are trying with all there might to ignore the Will of God in there lives, and teaching others to do so to accept this simple truth.   If you Love God, you will keep his commandments. But to be perfectly honest many will stop right here and say “just hold on a second here. This passage is clearly speaking about keeping Yeshua’s (Jesus’s) commandments not the Torah (Law, Will of God, Law of Moses).” As if the Father and the Son are not parts of the same God. As if they have a separate Will. And this is the flawed teaching that so many have fallen under. Yet when put to the test of scripture it falls apart quickly. Is it not written (Joh 10:30 I and the Father are one ). That’s funny if God is eternal, and he never changes, and Yeshua and the Father are one, where exactly do we get the idea that the commandments of Yeshua would be any different from our Father in Heaven? But many would say “yeah this is one verse”. Yet isn’t it also written (Joh 8:19 Then they said to Him, Where is your father? Jesus said to them, You neither know Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. ). Yeshua sure seemed to think and teach that he and his Father were one So now that we have gotten that out of the way, lets move on to Love. What exactly is Love. Is it the affect that comes from a pagan deities arrow when it hits you on the rump? Is it infatuation, or lust? Once again men can ponder and come up with all kinds of funny ideas about what love is. There have been volumes of books written on the subject. It has become so convoluted that many wouldn’t know Love if it was starring them in the face. So I think it is time to put all the man made nonsense behind us and once again look at what the Word of God says about the subject. (2Jn 1:6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. ) Wow    Who would have thought that Love is walking according to Gods commandments, isn’t that interesting. All these ideas we have been spoon fed from birth have absolutely nothing to do with Love. But we can stop here and ask ourselves another very important question. Haven’t many of us been taught that the Law and Commandments were supposed to be hard and grievous. Isn’t that why God changed his mind?   Oh wait we are also taught that God doesn’t change his mind like those false pagan gods. That is one of his characteristics. Ok so new approach. Isn’t that why Yeshua did away with the Law? Because it was to hard for man. Wait we just learned that Yeshua doesn’t have a different Will from the Father, and they are part of the same God. Ok Lets just say the Law is hard and we don’t want to follow it because it has always been said that the Law of Moses is a burden on man. So lets look at this false tradition and lie of satan. (1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.)

Wait a second does that Scripture really say that? Don’t we just know that the Law is burdensome and that’s why it was done away with? This idea doesn’t seem to hold up under the Truth of Scripture does it?    Lets look at a few more examples just to make sure that the Law of God is not a burden to men, as it has been commonly taught. Deuteronomy 4:4 teaches that keeping the Law prolongs our days. Duet5:29 teaches that the Law would insure that all would be well with the people and there generations that come after them. Deut 5:33 continues these teachings. So just to make sure it is stated. The Law (Torah, Will of God) was never meant to be burdensome or grievous. It was given to man to be a blessing. It defines the Will of God in our lives. It defines what sin is. It was never a punishment as many today teach out of ignorance. The teaching that the Law was meant to be a burden or in some way was a punishment to man, or in most cases Jews, is either ignorance, an out right refusal to read and understand Scripture ,or a blatant lie. A lie made by man to justify living outside of the Will of God. Which by the way if you read the post What is Sin, then you know that is the very definition of Sin. As we study and we hear the half truths and lies of man that has come directly from the pit we need to remember that justification of a fact does not change the fact. If the fact is that Sin is going against the Will of God then justifying it by saying that the Will of God doesn’t matter to us, does not change the simple truth of the fact. It is mans way to justify our actions to replace the Will of God in our lives.

So lets examine this for a moment. Lets ask the question WHAT IS THE WHOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN? How are we supposed to live? And once again we have been spoon feed many false traditions and lies. So instead of giving these any credence lets look at what Scripture has to say on the subject. (Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man.). The whole duty of man is to fear God, and keep his commandments. Wow!!! Its not to ignore his teaching’s and his Will? Amazing!!!! It is here that we really need to be honest with our selves. Did any of us really truly believe that God only wants to grant us wishes in the form of prayer and make us rich. Did any of us really in our heart of hearts believe that Yeshua (Jesus) sacrificed his self in order for us to Sin more and ignore his Ministry and his Fathers Will?

   Now comes the question that I think we all want to ask. HOW IS KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS LOVE? And I think this is a fair question. How is simply obeying the Will of God showing Love. Shouldn’t we at least buy him flowers? Maybe send him a card every once in awhile? So lets once again look to Scripture to find our answers. (Mat 22:37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. )

The two greatest commandments as stated by Yeshua himself. Lets dissect this verse a little before we continue. First off in order for Yeshua to give the greatest commandment it serves as proof that there are other commandments right. I mean if I was to say that the greatest cars in the world are Chrysler and Chevy does that mean you can’t buy a Honda? Of coarse not. Many say, that Yeshua is teaching that we do not need to know the Will of God in our lives. That as the beatles sang “all we need is love”. Yet if we love God we will keep his commandments. Are we starting to see the progression and how it all fits together? Yeshua states that first off we must Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. How do we do this? By obeying his Will in our lives. Second, if we Love God we must Love his children, His creations, our fellow man. Love our neighbor. And no it doesn’t meant Joe across the street only. It is all our fellow man. We are to love them as we love ourselves. Man is a selfish being after the fall and has continued to be so unto this day. Man almost always chooses himself above others, and above even his own Creator. So in the framework set up by Yeshua here. We are to love our fellow man in this context. We are to put them first as we always seem to do for ourselves in our fallen nature.   It goes on to say in verse 40 that on these two commandments hangs all the Law and the Prophets. I have heard this taught in ignorance so many time’s, that Yeshua is Hanging the Law as on a hangmen’s noose. This is a perverse and not even a clever lie. It is on these two principles that all the Law hangs as if by a fruit bearing branch. A Messianic title by the way is Branch (Nazaren). One more thing I really think must be pointed out here. Is that those of you who teach and believe that we are supposed to only follow the Big 10 commandments. You really need to focus on this passage of scripture and pray over it. Because the Two greatest commandments are not taken from the Big 10. Pray over this for awhile before you teach this idea to others. The 10 Commandments were a summary of the entire Law. A summary for the Will of God in our lives.     The Two greatest given by Yeshua is a further summary to lead us into
His Will. And it goes on later to summarize it more to one word LOVE. Now go back and define love as we have done in this post and try and to remove the Will of God from your lives.

   So now that we have set all of this foundation and precedent lets move on to the next logical question. How should we then feel about his commandments? Its hard to begin to think of the Law as set within the confines of Scripture when we have been misled for so long. But that is what seeking the Truth is all about. It isn’t always easy to take at first. So lets step outside the false traditions of men and see how Scripture tells us to view the law.

Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
Psa 1:2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Psa 119:29 Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!
Psa 119:30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.
Psa 119:31 I cling to your testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!
Psa 119:32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart!
Psa 119:33 Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.
Psa 119:34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart.
Psa 119:35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it.
Psa 119:36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Pro 29:18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

I Pray that this has at least given you an inclination towards curiosity to seek the Truth. Not my Truth, or your Truth, but Gods Truth. May he give us his Spirit of Wisdom and understanding as we go forth in study of His word. And may we receive eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts to change for His Will and Glory.

What Is Sin

2010-04-09T08:59:00.001-07:00

WHAT IS SIN?
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

What is Sin? This seems like a basic question to ask right? Yet surprisingly enough very few know how to define sin. Many think they know what sin is. Many Know about sin, all commit sin, but few can properly define it. If you ask 10 different people what sin is, you will probably get 10 different answers. They will vary from describing some sins, to it’s the evil and bad things we do. Many will describe sin as going against scripture. Yet they deny the very scriptures that describe sin in our lives. But sin is not in the action itself. Let me explain in scripture. ( Mat 5:27 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, "You shall not commit adultery." Mat 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ) There is no actual action when lusting in the heart. Yet Yeshua taught us that sin is in the heart, it is the motivation behind the action. He didn’t change or nullify the commandment not to commit adultery, he clarified it. Yet this still doesn’t define sin. The definition of sin is much simpler indeed. Another thing that might surprise some, is that the definition of sin doesn’t come from the understandings and pondering’s of men, it comes from scripture. Sure the Torah (Pentateuch, first five books of the Bible) define the will of God and in essence, sin for us. But the simplest definition comes from what many call the New Testament. And once again this is very surprising to some. The definition comes from (1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.). So the easiest definition of sin is the transgression of the Law. Just to clarify what Law is being spoken of here. The Greek word for transgression of the Law is
anomia
an-om-ee'-ah
From G459; illegality, that is, violation of law or (generally) wickedness: - iniquity, X transgress (-ion of) the law, unrighteousness..
The Law spoken of that is being transgressed is the Greek word
nomos
nom'-os
From a primary word νέ?ω nemō? (to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals); law (through the idea of prescriptive usage), generally (regulation), specifically (of Moses [including the volume]; also of the Gospel), or figuratively (a principle): - law..
This is the word commonly translated or understood to be Torah. To gain a better understanding of what sin is, you must understand that the Law being spoken of here is the Torah (Pentateuch, old Testament, first five books of the Bible). The simplest way to explain this is to remind the readers that the New Testament simply wasn’t written yet. The events of the New Testament were still in progress. The revelations and teachings that led to the New Testament were in progress. So sin is going against the Law of God. Most commonly Known as the Law of Moses. But we will go over this issue more in detail in coming postings. So for those of you who are still a bit nervous about this subject it may be best to understand that Sin is simply going against the Will of God. If God says to turn right and you turn left its sin. It is that simple. The problem comes in when we do not know what the Will of God is in our lives. So many get hung up and lost on this point. They say Yay I’m saved by the blood, now what? How do I live? And there are many answers and most have nothing to do with the truth. They usually involve coming to church or emulating a certain person or group of people. But the only one we are to emulate, is the very essence of discipleship. It is what the name Christian has come to mean. We are to in all things emulate our Messiah Yeshua (Jesus). (1Co 11:1 Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. ) Many people know very little about who Yeshua really is. They have been fed so many lies and mis-conceptions about him he has become something entirely different from how he is plainly described in scripture. Please take the time to read about our Messiah. Look at how he lived his life. And remember this is our example. Look at every aspect of his life. And try to see which parts of the Law (The Will of God) that he refused to follow! Remember the definition of Sin as stated by scripture and not mans idea of what’s acceptable. Many have heard that all sins are equal in the eyes of God. But they neglect to understand what that really means. Take the time to properly pray over this issue. If you do not know what the Will of God is you may in fact be walking in sin. And Yes Yeshua’s sacrifice did away with the condemnation of sin and death. BUT YESHUA DID NOT DIE TO GIVE US A LICENCES TO SIN. To think this is to deny the very nature of who our God is. Sure, we are no longer condemned by sin through the Blood of the Lamb, but we are to emulate him. And remember in order to be the messiah, he was without sin. We are to constantly try to remove sin in our lives. We do not attempt to keep from sin to become saved. We remove sin because we are saved.

Name of our Messiah

2010-04-08T13:48:00.000-07:00

Many people know our Messiah as Jesus. But this is lacking something. I need to be very clear right off the bat. I am not saying that if you were saved in the name of Jesus then it isn't valid. Or that praying in the name of Jesus doesn't go to the same Messiah. All I am saying is that even though it is the wrong name with the tongue it is the same spirit in the heart. And as with all issues it is the heart that matters. With that said. I would like to point out that while Jesus is a good translation of the Latin. Which is a good translation of the Greek Iesous, it is a horrible translation of the Hebrew Yhoshua. Or the shortened form Yeshua. You may be asking what is the difference if it all means the same thing? And the simple answer is devotion to ones Messiah is the difference. It is a question of true discipleship. Todd Agnew stated best in his song entitled which Jesus do you follow. Many people have a distorted image of who our Messiah is. They have believed the false traditions of man. They think of a Greek Jesus that had long flowing brown hair, and bright blue eyes. They teach a Jesus that did away with the Will of God in our lives. They forgot the Hebraic roots of our faith and our Messiah. It is time we stop looking at our faith as if it is a religion made by man. We need to look at Scripture with eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to change. We need to put aside our arrogance and pride and seek the truth in scripture. Not your truth or my truth but God's Truth. We see in (Mat 1:21 And she shall bear a son, and you shall call His name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins). What it actually says in the text is Yeshua. You see while Jesus is a fine name, it has no meaning. If you take a look into the Hebriac roots of our faith you will see all names have a deeper meaning behind them. In the Hebriac culture names mean something. The name was meant to be prophetic of who the child would become. The child as it grew would then have the option to accept his name and try and live up to it or to rail against it. This is a shadow picture in itself of man and God restoring Gods image in the world or railing against it as many of us tend to do. The story of the naming of Benjamin is the best place to see this in action. Gen 35:18 "And it happened as her soul was departing (for she died) that she called his name Benoni. But his father called him Benjamin". You see the Benoni in Hebrew means Son of my Sorrow. His Father did not want his son to have this negative stigma attached to his name. So he changed it ever so slightly to Benjamin. Which means son of my right hand. In Hebraic culture names mean something and are very important.

There are several instances in the Bible where someone’s name is changed either by the Creator or by His servants. Genesis 32:28 And He said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. Genesis 35:10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and He called his name Israel. Numbers 13:16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Oshea the son of Nun Jehoshua. Hosea 1:9 Then said the LORD, Call his name Loammi: for ye are not My people, and I will not be your God. Hosea 2:23 And I will sow her unto Me in the earth; and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy; and I will say to them which were not My people (Loammi), Thou art My people ( Ammi); and they shall say, Thou art my God. John 1:42 And he brought him to Yeshua. And when Yeshua beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. In Hebrew, names have meanings. Often when a child is born the reason for their name is given along with the name. Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from THE LORD. The name Cain (kof, yud, nun) comes from the root word kanah (kof, nun, hey), which means “acquired." Genesis 4:25 And Adam knew his wife again; and she bare a son, and called his name Seth: For Elohim, said she, hath appointed me another seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. The name Seth (shin, tav) comes from the root word shayt (shin, yud, tav), which means "appointed." When studying the Torah, one should always seek out the meanings of the names of the people and places involved, for they often contain meaningful revelations. Since our ancestors lived in a predominantly oral/aural culture, the names used often help to reveal the meaning and events of a story.

This is the first clue that Jesus was not the name given to our Messiah. In Matthew 1:21 above, right after giving his name which should read Yeshua, it says "For He shall save his people from there sins". You see unlike Jesus, Yeshua actually means something. It is a word that is still in use in the Hebrew language today. Yeshua means Salvation! And you shall call his name Salvation, Yeshua. So the true meaning of Yeshua is the salvation of God. It is written in the present tense. So it goes even deeper. It means the Salvation of God Now. Yeshua was the Salvation of God then. He is the Salvation of God Now. And he will always be the Salvation of God. The name Jesus in a linguistic sense means nothing. But Yeshua means the Salvation of God Now. Which one better describes the Light and Salvation of the world?